Mali tragedy: Africa Corps strikes leave eight civilians dead in Kyrnia
A devastating aerial attack in central Mali has left eight civilians dead, including three children, according to a scathing report by Human Rights Watch. The June 15 strike, carried out by an Africa Corps aircraft under Russian command, targeted the village of Kyrnia in the Mopti region, leaving three others injured.
The operation, conducted using a Russian-made Sukhoi Su-24 jet, struck civilian infrastructure, including the village chief’s residence and a livestock market, with no apparent impact on Islamic militant fighters. The attack has been widely condemned as a clear violation of international humanitarian law.
Ilaria Allegrozzi, Senior Sahel Researcher at Human Rights Watch, condemned the operation, stating: « The Africa Corps strike killed civilians in blatant disregard for the laws of war. » She further accused the Malian government of « enabling these atrocities » by granting Russian forces operational freedom within its territory.
The investigation relied on 19 telephone interviews conducted between June 24 and July 14 with witnesses, civil society representatives, Malian military personnel, and local journalists. Additional evidence included satellite imagery of the strike sites, a video from Africa Corps, and photographs published by an Islamist armed group.
Legal accountability under scrutiny
The report emphasizes that international humanitarian law, applicable to the conflict in Mali, prohibits attacks targeting civilians or civilian property. It also forbids indiscriminate strikes that fail to distinguish between combatants and non-combatants or cause disproportionate civilian harm relative to military advantage.
Allegrozzi urged Mali’s ruling junta to conduct an impartial investigation into possible war crimes, including the Kyrnia airstrike, stating: « The Malian government cannot evade responsibility for violations committed by its Russian allies. »
Shift in alliances raises concerns
Since expelling French forces and UN peacekeepers, Mali, led by transitional leader General Assimi Goïta, has deepened its security partnership with Moscow. This collaboration has intensified amid ongoing efforts to combat armed Islamist groups in the region.
