Mali army and Russian-backed forces double civilian deaths in drone campaign
Human Rights Watch reports that Mali's military and the Russian paramilitary group Africa Corps carried out 47 drone strikes from April to August, killing 94 civilians, more than double the previous year's toll.
According to a new Human Rights Watch report, Mali's armed forces and the Russian-backed Africa Corps intensified a drone campaign between April and August, conducting 47 strikes that killed 94 civilians, more than twice the casualties recorded in the same period the previous year. The surge follows a wave of attacks by al-Qaeda affiliate JNIM and Tuareg separatists that began on April 25, which also claimed the life of Mali's defence minister.
Notable incidents include an August 19 strike on a cattle market in the Bandiagara region and a pre-dawn attack on a health centre near Kidal, both resulting in multiple deaths. The report further records other violations, such as soldiers mistakenly shooting five young girls in Segou. Mali's military spokesperson and the Russian embassy in Bamako declined to comment, and the government continues to reject accusations of civilian killings. The study also notes retaliatory abuses by JNIM and the Azawad one outlet Front, including the execution of 19 soldiers in Gao.
Why it matters
The findings highlight a sharp rise in civilian casualties in Mali's counter-insurgency, raising serious human-rights concerns.
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