Jihadists and Tuareg separatists have seized the key northern town of Kidal in Mali after a weekend of fierce fighting, raising questions about the future of the military junta.
Defence Minister Sadio Camara was killed in a car bomb attack, while military ruler General Assimi Goita has not been seen or spoken publicly since fighting began.
The attacks, which targeted several strategic towns and areas around the capital Bamako, are the most serious challenge to the Malian state since 2012.
The military government has declared two days of national mourning for Camara and is urging the public not to panic.
Analysts say the latest attacks are a major blow to Mali's military junta and represent the country's gravest security crisis since 2012.
