Mali: Eight Civilians Killed in Mopti Airstrike, Africa Corps Under Scrutiny
A devastating airstrike in central Mali has left eight civilians dead, including three children, with the Human Rights Watch (HRW) pointing fingers at the Russian paramilitary group Africa Corps. The attack, which occurred on June 15 in the village of Kyrnia, reportedly struck a residential area and a nearby livestock market, according to HRW’s findings. The organisation has called for an immediate and transparent investigation into the incident, as no military targets were identified in the vicinity.
The Malian and Russian authorities have yet to respond to these allegations.
- Sécurité
In a detailed report, Human Rights Watch disclosed that a combat aircraft, identified by two Malian military sources as a Sukhoi Su-24, executed at least two bombings in Kyrnia. The first strike reportedly hit near the village chief’s residence, killing his wife, two of his children, and another child. The second bomb landed on a livestock market, claiming the lives of four men. HRW’s investigation concludes that the strikes lacked precision targeting, classifying them as indiscriminate attacks.
Africa Corps Claims Counterterrorism Strike
Africa Corps, operating under the Russian Ministry of Defence and collaborating with Malian forces, shared aerial footage on social media platforms, asserting that the strike targeted a gathering of “terrorist groups” in the Mopti region. HRW confirmed the geolocation of these images to Kyrnia. However, the organisation noted that no members of the Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM), an Al-Qaeda affiliate reportedly controlling the village for years, were killed in the attack.
Residents interviewed by HRW revealed that three of the village chief’s sons are affiliated with JNIM, though they were absent during the strike. They also mentioned the presence of armed group members in the village, primarily gathered in a mosque that remained untouched. HRW has urged Malian authorities to launch an inquiry to ascertain accountability. The organisation highlighted a pattern of human rights violations linked to operations conducted by Malian forces and their Russian allies.
Data from the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED) indicates that 918 civilians were killed in 2025 during operations attributed to the Malian army and its Russian partners. Meanwhile, the United Nations and Amnesty International have previously called for investigations into potential war crimes allegedly committed by both JNIM and the Front de libération de l’Azawad (FLA).