Mali: eight civilians killed in Mopti, Africa Corps under scrutiny for deadly strike

An airstrike in central Mali has left eight civilians dead, including three children, according to Human Rights Watch. The attack, which occurred on June 15 in the village of Kyrnia, is being attributed to the Russian paramilitary group Africa Corps. The organisation claims the strike targeted no identifiable military objective and is calling for an independent investigation. Neither Malian nor Russian authorities have responded to the allegations.

 

The incident unfolded in the Mopti region, a volatile area where armed groups have long operated. Human Rights Watch reported that the first bomb struck near the village chief’s residence, killing his wife, two of his children, and another child. A second bomb hit a nearby livestock market, claiming the lives of four men. After assessing the attack’s circumstances, the organisation concluded that the strikes appeared indiscriminate and violated international humanitarian law.

Russia-backed Africa Corps claims responsibility for targeted operation

Africa Corps, operating under Russia’s Ministry of Defence and alongside Malian forces, published aerial footage on social media showing a strike conducted on June 15. The group asserted that the operation targeted a gathering of « terrorist groups » in the Mopti region. Human Rights Watch, which geolocated the footage to Kyrnia, noted that no members of the Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM)—an Al-Qaeda-affiliated group reportedly controlling the village for years—were killed in the attack.

Local residents told Human Rights Watch that three of the village chief’s sons are affiliated with JNIM but were absent at the time of the strike. They also confirmed that armed fighters were present in the village, primarily gathered in a mosque that remained unscathed. The organisation has urged Malian authorities to launch an impartial inquiry and hold those responsible to account. Such operations involving Malian troops and their Russian allies have frequently faced accusations of human rights abuses.

Conflict data highlights rising civilian toll in Mali

According to Armed Conflict Location & Event Data (ACLED), 918 civilians were killed in 2025 during operations linked to the Malian army and its Russian partners. Meanwhile, the United Nations and Amnesty International have previously called for investigations into potential war crimes committed by both JNIM and the Front de Libération de l’Azawad (FLA).