Northern Mali is once again in turmoil after an airstrike hit a crowded market in Timbuktu’s region on Sunday, leaving at least 18 people dead and seven others injured. The Malian army has confirmed carrying out the strike, claiming it was aimed at "terrorists operating in the area."
Who Was Targeted?
While the military insists the operation was a counterterrorism measure, local groups and separatist leaders are calling it a massacre. The Collective for the Defence of the Rights of the Azawad People—a Tuareg separatist group—condemned the attack, calling it "barbaric" and a violation of human rights.
Mali's Ongoing Crisis
For over a decade, Mali has been stuck in a brutal conflict involving the government, separatist movements, and Islamist groups. The situation worsened after Western military forces withdrew, leaving a power vacuum now filled by state forces, Russian Wagner mercenaries, and armed rebel factions.
Reports suggest Ukraine-supplied drones have also entered the battlefield, helping northern Mali rebels launch attacks against army bases and Russian mercenaries. The growing use of drone warfare has only escalated the conflict, making civilian areas more vulnerable to strikes.
Human Rights Concerns
The Malian junta, led by Col. Assimi Goïta, has already faced international criticism for its ties to Russian Wagner forces, accused of carrying out human rights abuses. A recent report by Human Rights Watch found that at least 32 civilians were killed in joint Malian-Russian operations last year.
With the latest airstrike, concerns over civilian safety and military accountability are once again at the forefront. Will there be an independent investigation? Or will this be another case of conflict overshadowing justice?
For now, the people of Mali remain caught in the crossfire, waiting for answers—and peace.