Mali Air Strike
Despite the denial of the French government, a UN report has found that “a French air strike killed at least 19 civilians in Central Mali in January of 2020”. France claims that the air strike was targeted at jihadists but civilians say it struck a wedding party and killed civilians.
A 39-page report was released on Tuesday, March 30th stating that twenty-two people died as a result of the air strike. “The group affected by the strike was overwhelmingly composed of civilians, who are persons protected against attacks under international humanitarian law,” the MINUSMA wrote. “This strike raises significant concerns about respect for the principles of the conduct of hostilities.”
The Defense Ministry stated in a quote “The Ministry of the Armed Forces maintains and re-affirms with force that on January 3, the French armed forces carried out an airstrike targeting an armed terrorist group identified as such.” Fighters that have links to ISIS and Al-Qaeda have overtaken large portions of Mali, however, that doesn’t mean that there aren’t regular citizens living there. The nation endured its deadliest year on record in 2020. Extremists have uprooted villages and are using civilians as shields. Their aim is to convert people to their way of life through threats to life and bloodshed. A teacher told The Washington Post in January that “They control our area...Some of our young people have joined them. But that does not mean the whole village is jihadists. That does not make us jihadists.”
The French government has taken responsibility for the strike. They stated that they had killed 30 militants and the Mali government agreed. However, the locals disagreed, rather strongly. The armed guests were suspected to be members of Katiba Serma, an al-Qaeda affiliate group. The civilian victims were all men ranging from the ages of 23 to 71. Locals did confirm that only men gathered in the field that day. Mixed-gender gatherings had been largely banned since the extremists invaded, so women and children had stayed at home. “We heard what sounded like a plane and then a loud noise. Suddenly there were wounded people everywhere. Body parts everywhere.”
France has more than 5,000 troops in Mali. “MINUSMA is able to confirm that a wedding celebration was held that brought together about 100 civilians at the site of the strike, among whom five armed individuals, presumed members of Katiba Serma, were present,”. The MINUSMA report said 19 people, including 16 civilians and three of the armed men, were killed immediately in the air attack, while three more civilians died while being transferred to medical care. France claimed this to be the result of a “robust” targeting process.
“It is therefore impossible to distinguish credible sources from false testimonies by possible terrorist sympathizers or individuals under the influence (or threats) of jihadist groups.” Last week, local officials in northern Mali accused the French military of killing six civilians in another air strike. Once again, French forces said that they had targeted and struck only Islamic militants. Regarding the air strike in early 2020, “MINUSMA recommends that the Malian and French authorities lead an independent, credible and transparent investigation.”
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