"Drone Strikes Kill Over 20 Civilians, Including Children, Amid Escalating Conflict"

At least 15 civilians, including children, were killed on Sunday in northern Mali as drone strikes targeted the region where the Malian army and its Russian allies are engaged in fierce battles against separatists and jihadists. Local sources confirmed the tragic toll, with some reports suggesting the number of fatalities could be even higher.

The separatists quickly blamed "the army of the Malian junta and Russian mercenaries from the Wagner group" for the attacks, which took place in Tinzaouatene, near the Algerian border. According to their statement, 21 civilians, including 11 children, were killed in the strikes. This remote town was the scene of a major conflict in late July, where Tuareg-led separatists claimed a significant victory over the Malian army and Wagner forces.

Sunday’s drone strikes reportedly began with an attack on a pharmacy before spreading to other areas where people had gathered, according to Mohamed Elmaouloud Ramadane, a spokesman for the separatists. A local politician confirmed to AFP that at least 15 civilians were killed, while a local NGO official and a retired local official both reported that the death toll was at least 20, including children.

This incident is the latest in a series of violent clashes that have escalated since August 2023, when hostilities resumed between the Malian government and separatist forces after an eight-year hiatus. The military junta, which seized power in a 2020 coup, has prioritized regaining control of the entire country from separatists and jihadist groups linked to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State.

Under the leadership of Colonel Assimi Goita, the Malian junta shifted its alliances, severing ties with former colonial power France and forging a new partnership with Russia. This move led to the deployment of Russian Wagner mercenaries, whom the junta described as "instructors." However, their involvement in active combat has been evident, particularly in the July 25 ambush near Tinzaouatene, where the Malian army and Wagner forces suffered heavy losses.

In the wake of these losses, Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov reaffirmed Moscow's unwavering support for Mali. The Malian military responded with a series of retaliatory drone strikes on Tinzaouatene, which have drawn widespread condemnation for their impact on civilians. Since 2022, numerous allegations of civilian abuses have been leveled against the Malian army and its Russian allies, though the Malian authorities have consistently denied these claims.

The situation in northern Mali remains tense, with fears of further civilian casualties as the conflict continues to escalate.