An in-depth inquiry by the non-governmental organization Human Rights Watch has brought into question the official accounts surrounding recent aerial attacks conducted by Africa Corps in Mali. The investigation focused specifically on airstrikes that took place on June 15 in Kyrnia, a locality within the Mopti region, which tragically led to the deaths of eight civilians. Crucially, the organization’s findings indicate that no fighters from the Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimeen (JNIM) were among the victims, directly contradicting claims made by the Malian army’s Russian partners. Ilaria Allegrozzi, a senior researcher specializing in the Sahel for Human Rights Watch, provided insights from this critical on-the-ground Sahel investigation.