Malian armed forces, supported by Russian mercenaries from the Wagner Group, have been accused of committing serious abuses against civilians since the withdrawal of the UN peacekeeping mission, MINUSMA, in December last year, according to a report by Human Rights Watch (HRW) released on Thursday.
The report alleges that Mali’s military and Wagner Group forces deliberately killed at least 32 civilians, including seven in a drone strike, kidnapped four others, and burned over 100 homes in towns and villages across central and northern Mali since May.
HRW also accused the groups of violating international humanitarian law.
In addition, HRW highlighted abuses by jihadi groups in the region, claiming they summarily executed at least 47 civilians, displaced thousands, burned thousands of homes, and looted livestock essential for the survival of nomadic communities.
“The Malian army with the Wagner Group and Islamist armed groups have been targeting civilians and their property in violation of the laws of war,” said Ilaria Allegrozzi, HRW’s senior Sahel researcher.
Mali, alongside neighbouring Burkina Faso and Niger, has struggled with a decade-long insurgency led by jihadi groups linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State.
In recent years, military juntas in these nations have expelled French forces and sought security assistance from Russia’s Wagner Group.
Wagner mercenaries have operated in Mali since late 2021, following a military coup, replacing French troops and international peacekeepers in counterinsurgency efforts. However, they have faced accusations of involvement in civilian killings through raids and drone strikes.
The UN peacekeeping mission in Mali ended at the government’s request last December, with Malian authorities criticising its effectiveness against insurgents. Allegrozzi expressed concern about the current situation, saying,
“Since MINUSMA left Mali a year ago, it has been extremely difficult to get comprehensive information on abuses, and we are deeply concerned that the situation is even worse than reported.”
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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