Mali: Human Rights Watch Accuses Army, Russian Allies of Killing Dozens of Civilians in Drone Strikes

Mali: Human Rights Watch Accuses Army, Russian Allies of Killing Dozens of Civilians in Drone Strikes
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Human Rights Watch (HRW) has accused Mali’s armed forces and their Russian allies of carrying out apparently indiscriminate drone strikes and other abuses during intensified military operations against armed and separatist groups in recent months, alleging that the attacks have killed dozens of civilians.

In a report released on Monday, the international human rights organization said military operations conducted by Malian forces with Russian support had resulted in civilian casualties, raising concerns about the conduct of attacks and compliance with international humanitarian law governing the protection of civilians during armed conflicts.

Citing data from the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data project (ACLED), HRW reported that the number of drone strikes and the resulting civilian fatalities more than doubled between April and August compared with the same period a year earlier.

The increased use of drones has occurred amid an escalation of military operations in response to attacks across parts of Mali by Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), an armed group affiliated with al-Qaeda, as well as separatist factions led by Tuareg groups.