Russian-backed forces face accusations of civilian casualties in Mali as drone strikes lead to international condemnation.

Reports released this week by rights groups highlight the involvement of the Russian mercenary outfit known as Wagner in supporting government forces in central and northern Mali. Their assistance includes conducting raids and drone strikes resulting in civilian casualties, including many children. This activity has been documented from December to March.

For over a decade, Mali, alongside its neighboring countries Burkina Faso and Niger, has been grappling with an insurgency led by jihadi groups, some of which are affiliated with al-Qaida and the Islamic State. Recent military coups in these nations have led to the expulsion of French forces, prompting the ruling authorities to seek security assistance from Russian mercenary groups.

Since the arrival of Russian mercenaries in Mali following the 2021 coup, violence has escalated. The ruling junta has intensified its operations, employing deadly drone strikes targeting civilian gatherings and conducting raids alongside Russian mercenaries, resulting in civilian casualties.

Residents of the Sahel region, encompassing Mali, observe that Russia's presence has remained unchanged despite the death of Wagner's leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin, in a suspicious plane crash last year.

Ilaria Allegrozzi, Senior Sahel Researcher at Human Rights Watch, stated on Thursday, "Mali's Russia-backed transitional military government is not only committing horrific abuses, but it is working to eliminate scrutiny into its human rights situation."

In a specific incident recounted by Human Rights Watch, a raid conducted by Russian-backed government forces in January saw the army enter a village near a military base in central Mali. They arrested 25 individuals, including four children, whose bodies were later discovered blindfolded with gunshot wounds to the head on the same day, according to the report.

Earlier this week, Amnesty International reported that two drone strikes in northern Mali resulted in the deaths of at least 13 civilians, including seven children aged 2 to 17. Additionally, it noted that a pregnant woman injured in the bombing suffered a miscarriage days after the attack.

Human Rights Watch has highlighted that the Turkish-supplied drones in Mali possess the capability to deliver precise laser-guided bombs, with documented instances of civilian casualties resulting from drone strikes. For instance, a strike in central Mali's Segou region during a wedding killed at least seven individuals, including two boys. The subsequent day, another drone strike targeted a funeral for the victims of the previous day's attack.

In response to the escalating extremist violence in the Sahel region, the ruling juntas of Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso announced the formation of a joint security force earlier this month. This move follows their distancing from other regional and Western nations that disagree with their approach, opting instead to rely on Russia for security support.

Despite promises by the militaries to quell insurgencies following the ousting of their respective elected governments, conflict analysts note that violence has only intensified under their rule. With shared borders and overstretched security forces combating jihadist violence, the situation remains precarious.