Timbuktu, Mali – The Azawad National Liberation Movement (MNLA) has accused the Malian army of conducting a drone strike that allegedly killed a family of seven in the town of Tenkata, located in the Garagando area of the Timbuktu region. The incident reportedly occurred between the nights of November 13th and 14th.
According to a statement released by MNLA spokesperson Mohamed Mouloud Ramadan, the airstrike targeted the home of Ali Ag Mohamed al-Mahdi. The statement claims the strike resulted in the deaths of al-Mahdi, his wife, two daughters, and three other children. The MNLA characterized the alleged attack as part of a “genocidal project carried out by a criminal junta against the people of Azawad.”
The MNLA also reported another alleged airstrike targeting a nomadic camp in the Tassik area, near Kidal. The group claimed this attack resulted in significant casualties and material losses.
The MNLA condemned what it described as “heinous crimes and a policy of blind revenge pursued by the military junta in Mali.” The group called on international human rights organizations to document the alleged violations and take action to hold those responsible accountable under international humanitarian law.
In response, the Malian Armed Forces General Staff issued a brief statement acknowledging an operation on November 13th that it said “successfully hit three vehicles” southeast of Kidal. The army asserted that the operation was conducted as part of its efforts to monitor and secure the national territory. The Malian army reiterated its commitment to protecting civilians and property throughout the country.
These developments coincide with the second anniversary of the Malian army’s recapture of Kidal, following 11 years of control by Azawadi movements. Tensions and military rhetoric between the two sides have been escalating since the withdrawal of international forces from northern Mali.
