• Russian paramilitary group Africa Corps is accused of killing eight civilians in Mali.
• The June 15 airstrike hit the village of Kyrnia, according to Human Rights Watch.
• The attack resulted in the deaths of three children among other civilians.
• Witnesses reported a significant presence of jihadist fighters in the village at the time.
• Human Rights Watch called for an investigation into the airstrike incidents.

A recent report from Human Rights Watch (HRW) alleges that Russian paramilitary group Africa Corps killed eight civilians, including three children, during an airstrike in the village of Kyrnia, located in Mali's Mopti region, on June 15. This attack was described by HRW as "unlawfully indiscriminate," noting the absence of clear military objectives targeted during the strike, according to Reuters, India Times, Al Jazeera, and Africanews.

The airstrike involved a Sukhoi Su-24 aircraft that allegedly dropped two munitions, one near the village chief's residence, resulting in multiple civilian casualties, including the chief's wife and his children. The second strike targeted a nearby cattle market, killing four men, as stated by HRW. Notably, no casualties among the fighters of the al-Qaeda-linked Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM) were reported despite their presence in the village, according to Reuters, Al Jazeera, and Africanews.

HRW's investigation included interviews with local witnesses and the analysis of video footage posted by Africa Corps, which claimed the strike targeted a "gathering place of terrorists." The rights group has urged the Malian government to conduct an impartial investigation into the incident, warning of potential complicity in war crimes if it fails to act, as highlighted by India Times and Africanews.

Amid a protracted security crisis in Mali, the junta has increasingly relied on Russian military support, especially following the expulsion of French forces. However, the alliance with Russia's mercenaries has led to growing concerns regarding human rights abuses, highlighting the complex geopolitical dynamics at play in the region, according to Reuters, Al Jazeera, and India Times.