Civilian casualties in Mali linked to Africa Corps strikes, rights group claims
An international human rights organization has accused the Africa Corps—a Russian-backed military unit—of conducting unlawful airstrikes in central Mali that resulted in the deaths of eight civilians, including three children. The incident occurred on June 15 when a Russian-made Sukhoi Su-24 jet targeted the village of Kyrnia in the Mopti region, striking both a local leader’s residence and a livestock market without hitting any armed militants.
The organization’s findings highlight what it calls blatant disregard for international humanitarian law. Ilaria Allegrozzi, Senior Sahel Researcher at the rights group, condemned the attack, stating that the Malian government shares responsibility for the atrocities committed by its allied forces. She warned that Bamako’s collaboration with Moscow effectively grants Russian authorities “carte blanche” to operate without accountability.
The investigation relied on extensive fieldwork, including 19 telephone interviews conducted between June 24 and July 14 with witnesses, local civil society members, Malian troops, and journalists. Additional evidence included satellite imagery of the strike sites, a video released by Africa Corps, and photographs published by an Islamist armed group.
Violations of international law exposed
According to the report, the June 15 airstrike violated core principles of the laws of war, which prohibit attacks on civilians or civilian infrastructure, indiscriminate assaults, and disproportionate harm to non-combatants relative to any perceived military gain. The targeted areas—a civilian home and a livestock market—were not military objectives.
Calls for accountability in Bamako
Allegrozzi urged the Malian transitional government, led by General Assimi Goïta, to conduct an impartial investigation into potential war crimes, including the Kyrnia airstrikes. She stressed that the government cannot evade responsibility by deflecting blame onto its foreign partners.
The strike comes amid Mali’s deepening security and counterterrorism partnership with Russia following the withdrawal of French forces and UN peacekeepers. The shift has drawn international scrutiny over the conduct of joint military operations in the region.
