Human Rights Watch Accuses Russia’s Africa Corps of Deadly Airstrike on Civilians in Mali

DAKAR: Human Rights Watch (HRW) on Friday accused Russia’s Africa Corps of carrying out an “unlawfully indiscriminate” airstrike in central Mali that killed eight civilians, including three children, during a military operation last month, and called for an independent investigation into the incident.

According to the rights organization, the June 15 airstrike struck the village of Kyrnia in Mali’s Mopti region, hitting the residence of the village chief and a nearby cattle market. HRW said no fighters from the al Qaeda-linked Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), which controls the area, were present at the targeted locations, and no militants were reported among the casualties.

Human Rights Watch said its findings were based on witness interviews, satellite imagery, and geolocation analysis of aerial footage posted by Africa Corps. The organization urged both the Malian authorities and the Russian government to investigate the incident and ensure accountability for any violations of international humanitarian law.

Russia’s Africa Corps, which is affiliated with the Russian Ministry of Defence, has assumed Moscow’s military role in Mali following the withdrawal of the Wagner Group. The force supports Mali’s military government in its campaign against Islamist insurgent groups operating across the Sahel.

Neither the Russian Defence Ministry nor the Malian government immediately commented on the allegations. Both Malian forces and their Russian allies have previously faced accusations from international rights organizations of abuses against civilians during counterinsurgency operations, allegations they have consistently denied.

The latest accusations come as Mali continues to face escalating violence involving Islamist militants, separatist groups, and government forces, with civilian populations increasingly caught in the conflict.