Mali Junta and Wagner Group Accused of Civilian Atrocities After UN Withdrawal

Human Rights Watch reports deliberate killings, disappearances, and property destruction by Malian forces, Russian mercenaries, and Islamist groups over the past year.

• Human Rights Watch claims Malian forces and the Wagner Group have killed at least 32 civilians, forcibly disappeared four others, and burned over 100 homes since May 2024.
• Islamist armed groups, including al-Qaida and Islamic State affiliates, are accused of executing 47 civilians and displacing thousands since June 2024.
• The abuses reportedly occurred after the UN peacekeeping mission, MINUSMA, ended its decade-long presence in Mali in December 2023 at the junta's request.
• The Malian junta's reliance on Russian mercenaries has drawn criticism as accountability for human rights violations remains absent.
• Human Rights Watch warns the real scale of abuses may be significantly underreported due to limited access to affected regions.

3 Articles

RFI Associated Press Associated Press