Rights group accuses Africa Corps of deadly Mali airstrike

Russia’s Africa Corps has been accused of carrying out an indiscriminate airstrike that killed at least eight civilians, including three children, in central Mali, Human Rights Watch (HRW) has said, according to Reuters on July 31st, raising fresh concerns over the conduct of military operations in the Sahel nation.

According to the rights organisation, the strike targeted a village in the Mopti region on July 21, where civilians had gathered for a local market. HRW said there was no evidence that the victims were directly participating in hostilities and called for an independent investigation into the incident.

The organisation alleged that the attack violated international humanitarian law, urging Malian authorities and their Russian allies to ensure accountability for any unlawful killings. Russia’s Africa Corps, which replaced the Wagner Group as Moscow’s primary military presence in Mali, has been supporting the country’s armed forces in operations against armed groups linked to al Qaeda and the Islamic State.

Mali has experienced a sharp deterioration in security in recent years despite intensified military campaigns against insurgent groups. The military-led government has increasingly relied on Russian military support following the withdrawal of French and United Nations forces. Mali continues to face growing insecurity despite ongoing counterterrorism operations.

Human Rights Watch said witnesses described aircraft striking the village without warning, leaving homes damaged and civilians dead or injured. The organisation called on authorities to conduct a transparent inquiry and provide justice for victims and their families.

The latest allegations add to growing international scrutiny of military operations in Mali, where rights groups have repeatedly expressed concerns about civilian casualties during counterinsurgency missions.

Armed groups linked to al Qaeda continue to operate across the Sahel, contributing to instability in Mali and neighbouring Burkina Faso and Niger.

Neither Mali’s authorities nor representatives of Russia’s Africa Corps immediately responded to the allegations. Reuters reported that the accusations could further increase international pressure on Mali’s military government as it continues to confront an entrenched insurgency while strengthening security ties with Russia.

The incident highlights the ongoing challenges facing Mali as authorities seek to restore stability while balancing military operations with the protection of civilians.

Reuters, Maghrebi.org