Investigations by Human Rights Watch have revealed disturbing discrepancies in the official account of airstrikes conducted by Africa Corps in Kyrnia, a village in Mali’s Mopti region. On June 15, these strikes claimed the lives of eight civilians, with no evidence found of any armed combatants from the Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM) among the fatalities.
Ilaria Allegrozzi, a senior Sahel researcher for Human Rights Watch, highlighted the findings during a regional news segment. The organisation’s report directly challenges the narrative presented by Mali’s military allies, particularly Russian partners, who had asserted the presence of JNIM fighters in the targeted area.
The incident underscores escalating concerns over civilian casualties in military operations across West Africa. Human Rights Watch’s findings call for an independent, transparent investigation to clarify the circumstances surrounding the strikes and ensure accountability.
