Rights Activists Accuse Africa Corps of Targeting Civilian Vehicle in Northern Mali After Drone Strike Video Emerges

Ménaka – African Perceptions

A video published on Friday by Africa Corps, the Russian military contingent operating alongside Malian armed forces, has sparked widespread criticism from rights activists, who allege it shows a drone strike targeting a civilian transport vehicle in northern Mali.

According to local activists, the vehicle was travelling on the Ménaka–Tidermène road, a route commonly used by civilians—particularly low-income residents travelling to weekly markets.

One activist from Ménaka wrote: “Russian mercenaries and FAMa soldiers have reached the point of publishing their own crimes on social media. Here, a civilian vehicle was struck by a drone between Ménaka and Tidermène.”

Rights advocates argue that the footage itself could serve as additional evidence in documenting alleged attacks against civilians in northern Mali, where accusations of abuses by Malian forces and their Russian allies have intensified in recent years.

International organizations, including Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, the former UN peacekeeping mission in Mali (MINUSMA), and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, have previously documented allegations of unlawful killings, summary executions and abuses against civilians during joint operations involving Malian forces and Russian personnel. Malian authorities and their Russian partners deny carrying out systematic violations, maintaining that their operations target armed groups.

African Perceptions has not been able to independently verify the identities of those inside the vehicle or confirm whether the strike caused casualties. No official statement has been issued by either the Malian authorities or Africa Corps regarding the allegations.

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