Human Rights Watch (HRW) has released a report detailing significant violations of international law by the Malian army, its Russian paramilitary allies, and jihadist groups in the region. The report highlights multiple instances of civilian deaths and abuses attributed to both state and non-state actors involved in the ongoing conflict in Mali.
According to HRW, the Malian military and the associated Wagner Group have perpetrated acts against civilians while also facing retaliatory violence from jihadist factions like al-Qaeda-linked JNIM. The report describes how these groups have engaged in killings, torture, and executions, particularly during clashes since 2012 that have intensified following the military junta’s rise to power through coups in 2020 and 2021.
HRW urges the African Union’s Peace and Security Council to intervene to prevent further atrocities. The report includes testimonies from over 30 individuals, including activists and journalists, revealing how aerial attacks, allegedly conducted by Malian forces, have resulted in civilian casualties. Specific incidents include a drone strike in July that destroyed a health center in Talhandak and an attack in a market in Tombonkore in August, leading to six civilian deaths.
Moreover, the report accuses Malian soldiers of killing five girls during a mid-July operation in the Segou region, while local militia groups have also been implicated in civilian killings. An earlier report by Amnesty International corroborates these findings, citing war crimes committed during joint military operations.
HRW acknowledges that insurgent groups, including JNIM, have similarly violated the laws of war, with reports of torturing and executing captured soldiers following assaults on military convoys.
