Key facts
- Drone strikes and civilian casualties in Mali more than doubled between April and August compared to the same period last year.
- Malian forces and Africa Corps conducted 47 drone strikes resulting in 94 civilian deaths from April-August.
- Human Rights Watch documented abuses by Malian forces, Africa Corps, JNIM, and Tuareg-led separatists.
Mali's armed forces and their Russian backers utilized apparent indiscriminate drone strikes and other abuses as part of an intensified offensive against insurgents in recent months, resulting in scores of civilian deaths, Human Rights Watch said in a report released Monday. The report cited data showing drone strikes and civilian casualties more than doubled between April and August compared to the same period a year ago. These actions were in response to nationwide attacks by the al-Qaeda-affiliated JNIM and Tuareg-led separatists. Insurgent attacks on April 25 killed Mali's defense minister and hit multiple towns and the main airport in Bamako. The data from ACLED indicated Malian forces and Africa Corps carried out 47 drone strikes resulting in 94 civilian deaths from April-August, an increase from 22 strikes and 44 deaths a year prior. Specific incidents included a drone strike on a cattle market in Bandiagara on August 19 that killed six men, and a July 29 strike on a health center in Kidal. The report also documented abuses not involving drones, such as soldiers allegedly shooting and killing five young girls in Segou on July 12. Human Rights Watch stated it received no response from Malian authorities to a letter detailing its findings. Mali has previously denied killing civilians in counterinsurgency operations. The Russian embassy in Bamako did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Africa Corps's involvement. The report also documented abuses by JNIM and Tuareg-led separatists, including the execution of 19 soldiers in July.