Africa Corps strikes raise civilian deaths concerns in Mali

Human Rights Watch has exposed what it calls “blatantly unlawful” airstrikes conducted by the Africa Corps in central Mali, resulting in the deaths of eight civilians—including three children—on June 15. The targeted strikes, carried out by a Russian-made Sukhoi Su-24 aircraft, struck the village of Kyrnia in the Mopti region, obliterating the village chief’s home and a livestock market while leaving no Islamist combatants among the casualties.

The incident has drawn sharp condemnation from Ilaria Allegrozzi, a senior Sahel researcher at Human Rights Watch, who emphasized that “the Africa Corps’s actions disregarded fundamental rules of war, deliberately targeting non-combatants.” She further accused Mali’s military leadership of bearing responsibility for these violations, stating that by collaborating with Russian forces, the government has effectively granted them a “blank check” to operate beyond legal boundaries.

Evidence and investigations

Human Rights Watch’s findings are based on a rigorous investigation, including 19 telephone interviews conducted between June 24 and July 14 with witnesses, civil society representatives, Malian soldiers, and local journalists. The organization also analyzed satellite imagery of the strike sites, reviewed a video released by the Africa Corps, and examined photographs shared by an Islamist armed group.

Legal violations and accountability

Under international humanitarian law, which governs armed conflicts in Mali, attacks that fail to distinguish between civilians and combatants or cause disproportionate civilian harm relative to military gain are strictly prohibited. Allegrozzi made it clear that “the Malian government cannot absolve itself of responsibility for war crimes committed by its allied forces.” She urged the ruling junta to initiate an impartial investigation into all potential war crimes, including the Kyrnia airstrikes, to ensure justice for the victims.

Changing alliances and rising tensions

Since General Assimi Goïta assumed power, Mali has deepened its security cooperation with Russia, particularly in counterterrorism efforts, following the withdrawal of French troops and UN peacekeepers. This shift has raised concerns about the growing influence of external actors in the region’s conflict dynamics.