Local sources and eyewitnesses reported that at least 14 civilians were killed during an operation carried out by Malian army forces and members of the Russian Africa Corps in the weekly market of Ishl, in the Timbuktu region of northern Mali.
According to multiple accounts obtained by African Perceptions, troops opened fire on civilians inside and around the market, resulting in several deaths and injuries.
One local source said the shooting targeted men present at the market and added that children were among the victims, including boys reportedly as young as ten years old.
Earlier eyewitness reports indicated that Malian and Russian forces had burned motorcycles undergoing repairs or suffering mechanical faults and seized other motorcycles belonging to traders and fishermen who had traveled from villages along the Niger River to attend the weekly market.
Sources said the forces justified the actions by citing restrictions on motorcycle use in the area, despite motorcycles serving as the primary means of transportation for local communities.
No official statement has yet been issued by the Malian Armed Forces or the Russian Africa Corps regarding the allegations. The reported casualty figures could not be independently verified due to restricted access to the area.
The incident comes amid ongoing military operations across northern Mali and growing concerns over their impact on civilian populations.
