Bamako: The French Foreign Ministry has issued a recommendation for its nationals in Mali to leave the country "as soon as possible" due to escalating security concerns. In a statement on Wednesday, the ministry cited recent attacks in several areas, including the capital city of Bamako, as a cause for the increased volatility in the region. French citizens are advised to depart using available commercial flights.

According to Anadolu Agency, the French government has also urged its citizens remaining in Mali to stay indoors and keep in close contact with their families. For those who must travel, extreme caution is advised, and adherence to local authorities' instructions is emphasized. The warning follows a series of coordinated attacks carried out by armed groups, including the al-Qaeda-linked JNIM and the Azawad Liberation Front, across multiple cities.

The Mali transitional government, through General Issa Ousmane Coulibaly, confirmed the death of Defense Minister Sadio Camara in a statement on national television. Camara was killed in a suicide attack involving a vehicle-borne explosive device at his residence in Kati, a military town near Bamako. Reports indicate that Camara engaged the attackers and managed to neutralize several before succumbing to his injuries after being evacuated to a hospital.