DAKAR: At least 15 civilians, including children, have been killed in drone strikes in northern Mali, where the Malian army and its Russian allies are fighting separatists, local sources said. The attacks occurred in Tinzaouatene, a region near the Algerian border.
Local sources report varying casualty figures, with some indicating that as many as 21 civilians, including 11 children, were killed. The separatists have blamed “the army of the Malian junta and Russian mercenaries from the Wagner group” for the strikes.
Mohamed Elmaouloud Ramadane, a spokesman for the separatists, described how the initial strikes targeted a pharmacy, followed by additional attacks on gatherings near the damaged site.
A local politician told AFP that at least 15 civilians were killed, while a local NGO official and a retired official both reported higher death tolls, with at least 20 civilians, including children, reportedly killed in the drone strikes.
The resurgence of hostilities in northern Mali began in August 2023, ending an eight-year period of relative calm. The conflict involves the Malian government, separatist groups seeking an independent homeland, and militant forces linked to the Islamic State group.
Since the military junta, led by Colonel Assimi Goita, took power in a 2020 coup, there has been a significant shift in Mali’s alliances. The junta moved away from traditional ties with France and increasingly relied on Russian support, including the deployment of Wagner mercenaries, who are officially described by the junta as “instructors.”
The Wagner group, known for its involvement in various conflicts globally, has been a controversial presence in Mali. In late July, Tuareg-led separatists claimed to have killed 84 Wagner fighters and 47 Malian soldiers during intense fighting near Tinzaouatene.
Both the Malian army and Wagner acknowledged significant losses but did not provide specific figures.
