Sadio Camara -- seen as the mastermind behind the junta's pivot to an alliance with Russia -- was killed in two days of fierce fighting over the weekend, which pitted the army against separatists and jihadists.

The Tuareg rebels of the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) allied with the Al-Qaeda-linked jihadist Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM), carried out the large-scale attacks that targeted multiple locations.

Camara's funeral will be held at 10:00 am local time (GMT), the military source told AFP Wednesday, without giving further details.

Tight security is expected given the current situation in Mali.

Camara died as the result of an attack at his residence in Kati, a garrison town near Bamako which is home to several senior junta officials and was targeted in the attacks.

During the assault, the separatists and jihadists were able to capture the key northern town of Kidal, and also targeted Gao in the mostly desert north along with Mopti and Sevare in the centre, plus areas around Bamako.

The 47-year-old Camara died when a "car bomb driven by a suicide bomber" targeted his residence, the Malian government said.

In an address to the nation Tuesday evening, junta leader Assimi Goita paid tribute to a "valiant officer" whose "passage constitutes an immense loss" for Mali.

The government declared two days of mourning following Camara's death.