Human Rights Watch Reports Alleged War Crimes by Africa Corps in Central Mali
In a scathing report released today, Human Rights Watch (HRW) has accused Africa Corps—a Russian government-aligned military unit—of conducting an unlawful airstrike in central Mali that resulted in the deaths of eight civilians, including three children. The attack occurred on June 15 in the village of Kyrnia, located in the Mopti region, where a Russian-manufactured Sukhoi Su-24 jet targeted civilian structures without hitting any Islamist militants.
According to HRW’s findings, the strike demolished the village chief’s residence and a livestock market, injuring three additional civilians. The incident has drawn sharp condemnation from Ilaria Allegrozzi, HRW’s Senior Sahel Researcher, who stated that the attack “violated international humanitarian law by deliberately targeting civilians.”
Africa Corps’ actions were described as a “blatant disregard for the laws of war,” with Allegrozzi emphasizing that Mali’s transitional government shares responsibility for enabling such atrocities by aligning itself with Russian forces. “The Malian authorities cannot evade accountability for war crimes committed in their name,” she asserted.
HRW’s investigation relied on multiple sources, including:
- 19 in-depth telephone interviews conducted between June 24 and July 14 with survivors, local activists, Malian military personnel, and journalists;
- Satellite imagery analysis of the strike zone;
- A leaked video from Africa Corps showing the attack;
- Photographic evidence published by Islamist armed groups.
The organisation stressed that international humanitarian law, applicable in Mali’s conflict, prohibits attacks on civilians or civilian property, indiscriminate strikes, and operations causing disproportionate harm to non-combatants relative to any military advantage.
“The Malian junta must immediately launch an impartial investigation into all potential war crimes, including this airstrike in Kyrnia,” Allegrozzi urged. The call comes as Mali’s military leadership, under General Assimi Goïta, deepens its security cooperation with Russia—particularly after severing ties with French forces and UN peacekeepers.
This incident underscores growing concerns over the humanitarian toll of Mali’s security crisis and the role of foreign military actors in escalating civilian casualties.