In a troubling report released by Human Rights Watch (HRW), it has been revealed that Russian paramilitary forces, operating under the name Africa Corps, were involved in airstrikes that resulted in the deaths of eight civilians in Mali, including three children, during June. The incident occurred on June 15 in the village of Kyrnia, located in the Mopti region, where a Sukhoi Su-24 aircraft dropped at least two munitions.
The first airstrike hit close to the residence of the village chief, tragically killing two of his children, his wife, and another child while injuring a woman. The second strike targeted a nearby cattle market, leading to the deaths of four men and injuries to two others. HRW noted that no casualties among Islamist armed group fighters were reported.
The region has been experiencing increasing violence from both the Tuareg separatist group known as the FLA and the Al-Qaeda-affiliated Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM), who have intensified their attacks against Mali’s junta and their Russian mercenary partners. The HRW report emphasized that the absence of jihadist casualties among the victims raises serious concerns regarding the accountability of the Malian government, particularly in its collaboration with Russian forces.
Ilaria Allegrozzi, a senior researcher for HRW, criticized the Malian government’s decision to engage Russian forces, asserting that by granting them a “blank check,” the government has placed itself in a position of accountability for the atrocities committed by its allies.
Africa Corps publicly took responsibility for the strikes, asserting that the attack was aimed at a venue they deemed a gathering point for terrorist groups. Their claims included the release of footage purportedly depicting the strikes on the village.
Eyewitness accounts sourced by HRW indicated that at least 100 fighters from JNIM, including a senior commander, were present in the village during the attack. This raises further questions about the militarization of the area and the operational decisions made by both the Malian junta and its Russian partners.
Since assuming power through two successive coups in 2020 and 2021, Mali’s ruling junta had pledged to restore stability to a nation that has faced a prolonged security crisis beginning in 2012. However, their shift from reliance on former colonial power France to a closer alliance with Russia has not yet yielded the promised peace and security for the Malian populace.
