Eight civilians killed in Mopti airstrike linked to africa corps
Eight civilians killed in Mopti airstrike linked to Africa Corps
A deadly airstrike in central Mali’s Mopti region has left eight civilians dead, including three children, according to a new report by a leading human rights watchdog. The attack, which targeted the village of Kyrnia on June 15, has drawn sharp criticism from international observers over its apparent lack of military justification. Africa Corps, a Russian-linked paramilitary group operating alongside Malian forces, has yet to provide a detailed response to the allegations.
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Human rights investigators have concluded that the June 15 bombardment of Kyrnia, a rural community in Mopti, was indiscriminate and resulted in civilian casualties. Evidence collected by the watchdog reveals that two separate explosions occurred within minutes of each other: one near the village chief’s home, killing his wife and two children, and a second at a nearby livestock market, where four men were fatally struck. The organisation’s field team noted the absence of any visible military targets in the vicinity at the time of the strike.
Africa Corps claims counterterrorism success
Africa Corps, officially recognised as a Russian Defence Ministry unit deployed in support of Malian troops, published aerial footage on social media shortly after the incident. The group asserted that the strike had neutralised a gathering of ‘terrorist operatives’ in the Mopti area. Investigators confirmed the authenticity of the footage, pinpointing its location to Kyrnia. However, no evidence emerged linking the attack to the Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM), the Al-Qaeda affiliate long rumoured to exert influence in the region. Witnesses interviewed by the watchdog disclosed that three of the village chief’s sons are affiliated with JNIM but were not present during the raid. They also confirmed the presence of armed fighters in the area, concentrated near a mosque that remained untouched by the bombardment.
The human rights body has urged Malian authorities to launch a transparent inquiry into the incident and determine accountability. It highlighted a troubling pattern of civilian harm in operations involving Malian forces and their Russian allies, citing 918 civilian deaths in 2025 alone, according to independent conflict tracking data. Previous appeals for investigations into alleged war crimes have been issued by United Nations officials and Amnesty International, targeting both armed groups and state-aligned security forces.