A military transport aircraft belonging to the Russian Africa Corps crashed on Monday, August 17, 2026, just a few meters from the landing runway of Tombouctou Airport. According to available local reports, the crash reportedly resulted in the deaths of all those on board.
Local sources indicate that the aircraft was being used to transport troops and crashed while approaching Tombouctou Airport.
Several local sources confirmed the incident, including Radio Azawad Internationale and journalist Walid Berber, as the news quickly spread across the region.
The crash occurred approximately one hour after a bombardment reportedly carried out by the Malian army and the Africa Corps on the morning of Monday, August 17, 2026. The bombardment reportedly targeted the market in the Gathi Lumo area, located approximately 30 kilometers southwest of Léré, in the Tombouctou region.
The news of the crash sparked expressions of relief among some residents of Azawad, amid continued military operations and airstrikes in different parts of the region.
