Human Rights Watch (HRW) has accused the Malian army and its Russian ally, the Wagner Group, of committing atrocities against civilians in central and northern Mali since the withdrawal of the United Nations peacekeeping mission, MINUSMA, in December 2023.
The human rights organization, in a report published on Thursday, stated that at least 32 civilians were “deliberately killed” by Malian forces working with Wagner’s paramilitary group between May and December 2024. Additionally, armed Islamist groups, including the al-Qaeda-affiliated Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (GSIM) and the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (EIGS), were held responsible for the deaths of at least 47 civilians and the displacement of thousands since June.
HRW cautioned that the reported figures are likely underestimated due to challenges in accessing information in conflict areas. “Since the departure of MINUSMA, it has been extremely difficult to gather comprehensive data, raising concerns that the situation may be significantly worse,” said Ilaria Allegrozzi, a Sahel researcher for HRW, in the report.
The report, based on interviews with 47 eyewitnesses and sources, as well as satellite imagery and verified social media content, highlights ongoing violence in a country already struggling with jihadist insurgency and political instability.
The withdrawal of MINUSMA, which once had a force of 15,000 personnel, followed Mali’s pivot from a longstanding alliance with France to stronger ties with Russia under the junta that seized power in 2020. The junta had pushed for the end of MINUSMA’s mandate, arguing that the mission was ineffective in combating insurgency.
HRW noted that it had shared its findings with the Malian government but had not received a response.
The organization called for urgent international action to address the deteriorating human rights situation in Mali, warning that civilians remain at heightened risk of violence.
