Human Rights Watch has conducted a thorough investigation into the recent airstrikes carried out by Africa Corps in the village of Kyrnia, located in Mali’s central Mopti region. The strikes, which took place on June 15, resulted in the tragic loss of eight civilian lives. According to findings by the international watchdog, none of the victims were affiliated with the Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM), a claim that starkly contradicts statements made by Mali’s Russian military partners.
The report, authored by Ilaria Allegrozzi, a senior Sahel researcher at Human Rights Watch, has raised serious questions about the accuracy of the narratives provided by Mali’s allied forces. Allegrozzi emphasized that the civilian casualties occurred in an area with no known presence of armed militants at the time of the attack.
This investigation underscores the urgent need for transparency in military operations across the Sahel, particularly in conflict zones where civilian lives are increasingly at risk. The incident has reignited debates over the accountability of foreign-backed military units operating in Mali and their adherence to international humanitarian law.
