Mali: Drone strikes in Inadjatafane, several children killed

On Monday, October 21, 2024, in the Timbuktu region of Mali, drone strikes attributed to the Malian army caused the death of five civilians, including four children, in Inadjatafane , a town located in the Gourma-Rharous circle . The images of the victims, circulating on social networks and in local media, are of unbearable violence, causing a shock wave among the population and human rights organizations.

Civilians victims of drone strikes

The victims include an infant and several children, as well as about twenty injured people, some of whom are in critical condition. This provisional assessment was established by the human rights association Kal Akal , corroborated by local sources often close to the rebellion of the Permanent Strategic Framework for Peace, Security and Development (CSP) .

The drone strikes occurred in the middle of the day, around 12 noon, during the weekly Inadjatafane fair. In addition to the loss of life, the market was also severely damaged by the explosions.

Malian army singled out

Despite the absence of official communication from the Malian army on this operation, a Malian security source confirmed that the strikes had indeed been carried out by the army, specifying that the victims were ” clearly civilians “. Asked by RFI for explanations, the army has not yet reacted, leaving many questions unanswered.

Recurring and controversial strikes

This tragedy in Inadjatafane is not an isolated case. For several months, drone strikes carried out by the Malian army in the north of the country have repeatedly caused civilian casualties. In March 2024 in Amasrakad and Douna , as well as in November 2023 in Kidal , similar operations also cost the lives of civilians.

The Malian army has repeatedly denied the accusations, claiming to be targeting terrorist groups and calling some of the information disseminated by international media ” fake news .”

Conclusion

The drone strikes in Inadjatafane have once again raised questions about the methods used by the Malian army in its fight against terrorism. As the human toll among civilians continues to rise, the transparency and accountability of the army are increasingly being questioned by human rights defenders, who are calling for an independent investigation to shed light on these operations.