The Azawad Political Forum has strongly condemned what it described as a “massacre” in the village of Ishl, located in the Tonka district of the Timbuktu region in northern Mali.
In a statement issued on June 13, 2026, the Forum accused Malian armed forces and members of the Africa Corps of carrying out an operation during the weekly market that allegedly resulted in the killing of 17 civilians.
According to the statement, the weekly market was transformed into a scene of violence and bloodshed. The Forum alleged that the operation was accompanied by widespread looting and destruction, including the seizure of vehicles and motorcycles, the burning of some of them, and the confiscation of merchants’ goods and civilian property.
The statement further claimed that livestock belonging to local residents was seized, depriving many families of their primary source of income and livelihood.
The Azawad Political Forum called on the United Nations, international and regional human rights organizations, and the broader international community to urgently investigate the incident and take action to prevent further abuses against civilians.
The Forum also expressed solidarity with the families of the victims and those affected by the incident, offering condolences to the relatives of those killed and wishing a speedy recovery to the injured.
The allegations come amid continuing insecurity and escalating violence in northern Mali, where armed conflict has resulted in growing humanitarian concerns and repeated accusations of abuses against civilians.
