Amnesty International has released a report accusing members of the Malian Armed Forces (FAMa) and the Russian private military company Wagner of committing war crimes against civilians in Mali between 2023 and 2025. The report, titled "No One is Spared," documents the murders of at least 34 civilians in seven locations across the country. These crimes were committed during joint operations by FAMa and Wagner personnel.
The report details various human rights abuses, including torture, forced disappearances, and illegal attacks on civilians. Amnesty International gathered testimony from survivors and witnesses, revealing a pattern of abuse targeting civilians, particularly from the Fulani, Arab, and Tuareg communities. The organization has called on the Malian authorities to investigate these allegations and hold those responsible accountable.
According to Amnesty International, the victims were often deliberately killed or tortured during operations by FAMa and Wagner personnel. In some cases, civilians were arrested and then executed, while others were subjected to simulated drownings, electrocutions, and other forms of torture. The report also describes two drone strikes by FAMa that targeted a market and a residential area, killing at least 23 civilians, including five children.
The Malian government has not responded to Amnesty International's findings. The organization has urged the authorities to take immediate action to protect civilians during military operations and to ensure that foreign personnel operating in the country are held accountable for their actions. Amnesty International has also called for an independent national accountability mechanism to investigate and prevent human rights abuses.
The report highlights the dire humanitarian situation in Mali, where civilians are caught in the midst of a conflict involving various armed groups. Amnesty International's findings suggest that the Malian army and its foreign allies have committed serious human rights abuses, which have gone largely unpunished. The organization has emphasized the need for impartial and effective investigations into these crimes.
Marceau Sivieude, Amnesty International's regional director for West and Central Africa, has condemned the Malian authorities for their lack of response to these allegations. He emphasized that the government has a responsibility to protect civilians and ensure that those responsible for human rights abuses are held accountable. Sivieude also called for the Malian government to clarify the chain of command for foreign personnel operating in the country.
The Amnesty International report is part of a broader investigation into human rights abuses in Mali. The organization has previously documented war crimes and other serious human rights abuses committed by non-state armed groups, including the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (GSIM/JNIM), the Front for the Liberation of Azawad (FLA), and the Islamic State in the Sahel (EIS).
Key points
- Malian army and Wagner group committed war crimes against civilians in Mali between 2023 and 2025.
- Amnesty International documented murders of at least 34 civilians, as well as torture and drone strikes that killed civilians.
- Malian authorities have not responded to Amnesty International's findings and are urged to investigate and hold those responsible accountable.
