Mali eight civilians killed in Mopti amid africa corps strike allegations

Human Rights Watch (HRW) has accused the Russian paramilitary Africa Corps of carrying out an airstrike in central Mali that resulted in the deaths of eight civilians, including three children. The incident occurred on June 15 in the village of Kyrnia, located in the Mopti region. The organization asserts that the attack, which struck both a residential area and a livestock market, lacked a clear military target and demands an immediate investigation. Neither Malian nor Russian authorities have responded to these allegations.

Unverified claims and conflicting narratives

According to HRW’s report, a combat aircraft—identified by two Malian military sources as a Sukhoi Su-24—dropped at least two bombs during the operation. The first explosion near the village chief’s home reportedly killed his wife, two of his children, and another child. The second bomb struck a nearby livestock market, where four men were killed. After analyzing the attack’s circumstances, HRW concluded that the strikes appeared indiscriminate, with no evidence of a legitimate military objective.

Africa Corps disputes civilian targeting

Africa Corps, a Russian-affiliated paramilitary group operating under Mali’s Defense Ministry, published aerial footage on social media claiming responsibility for a strike against what it described as a gathering of “terrorist groups” in Mopti. HRW cross-referenced this footage with geolocation data, confirming its alignment with Kyrnia. However, the organization noted that no members of the Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM)—an Al-Qaeda affiliate reportedly active in the area—were killed in the attack. Locals interviewed by HRW revealed that three of the village chief’s sons are affiliated with JNIM but were absent during the strike. They also confirmed the presence of armed fighters in the village, primarily gathered in a mosque that remained unscathed.

HRW has urged Malian authorities to conduct a thorough investigation to determine accountability. The organization highlighted a pattern of human rights violations linked to operations involving Malian forces and their Russian allies. According to Armed Conflict Location & Event Data (ACLED), 918 civilians were killed in 2025 during operations attributed to the Malian military and its Russian partners. Meanwhile, the United Nations and Amnesty International have previously called for probes into potential war crimes committed by JNIM and the Front de Libération de l’Azawad (FLA).