Mali’s military is directly responsible for the deaths of at least 71 civilians since December 2021, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said in a report released yesterday. Mali’s junta leadership rejected the New York-based organization’s report. There have been significant increases in human rights abuses by the Malian army. Army units are said to have executed several people, including women, children and the elderly, in the central and southern regions of the country.
Human Rights Watch says 107 civilians have been killed in Mali by terrorist organizations or the military since December 2021. Of these, at least 71 were executed by government forces and 36 by terrorist organizations.
HRW Sahel Director Corinne Dufka pointed out that civilian deaths have increased dramatically and stressed that these executions, which can also be considered war crimes, should be investigated by international organizations.
Mass graves containing the bodies of 35 people were discovered in Mali’s Segou region in early March, suggesting they were executed by Malian army soldiers. Witnesses said the dead included people who had previously been arrested by the military. The United Nations has launched an investigation into the incident. Malian officials declined to answer reuters news agency questions on the matter, but told HRW officials. The report does not reflect the facts, officials argued, but said an investigation has been opened into possible violations, but they were never involved in the mass execution.
Attacks on civilians in Mali continue unabated despite the presence of thousands of international and peacekeepers. Many areas are under direct control of the militants. Mali’s military struck in 2020, using the government’s inability to contain violence in the country. Mali’s military has admitted to involvement in some massacres of its soldiers in past years, but has only been able to make show trials.
