Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) has accused Malian armed forces and members of the Russian Africa Corps of carrying out what it described as a massacre against civilians in the village of Ishl, southwest of Timbuktu in northern Mali.
In a statement released by the group’s Al-Zallaqa media outlet, JNIM claimed that Malian and Russian forces surrounded the village’s weekly market on June 11 before opening fire on civilians.
According to the statement, more than 16 civilians were killed and extensive looting took place during the operation.
The group further alleged that troops burned several motorcycles, seized vehicles and motorcycles belonging to local residents, and confiscated money and personal property.
JNIM described the incident as part of what it called a growing pattern of abuses in northern and central Mali and blamed the authorities in Bamako for the alleged violations.
Neither the Malian military nor the Russian Africa Corps has publicly commented on the allegations. The reported casualty figures and details of the incident could not be independently verified.
The accusations come amid ongoing military operations and escalating violence across northern Mali.
