Amnesty International has released a report detailing war crimes committed by Mali's armed forces and the Russian paramilitary Wagner group. The report documents the deaths of at least 34 civilians in joint operations between June 2023 and December 2025. The victims, who were not taking direct part in hostilities, were killed through various means, including being shot while trying to flee or after being arrested, having their throats slit, or being burnt alive or post-mortem.
The report highlights the case of a small hamlet, Tin Adanda, in the Timbuktu region, where four people were killed during a patrol by the military and Wagner on February 12, 2025. Amnesty also described two drone strikes carried out in the same region in March and November 2025, which killed at least 23 people, including at least five children. These incidents are part of a larger pattern of human rights abuses documented by Amnesty International.
According to Amnesty, the vast majority of victims belonged to Fulani, Arab, and Tuareg pastoral communities. Some individuals were suspected of collusion with armed groups based solely on their ethnic background and their presence in an area where these armed groups were active. This has raised concerns about the targeting of specific communities by the Malian army and Russian paramilitaries.
Amnesty International also gathered testimony from 15 men who were tortured or ill-treated during joint military and Wagner patrols or while held at the Lere and Nampala military bases. Witnesses confirmed the torture of 30 individuals during the patrols and in the bases, and said five died at the bases from torture or poor conditions. This highlights the mistreatment of civilians by the Malian army and Russian paramilitaries.
Mali's ruling junta, which came to power in two coups in 2020 and 2021, turned to Russia for support in its fight against jihadists, notably enlisting the Wagner group paramilitaries. Human rights organizations have repeatedly accused the Malian army and Russian paramilitaries of killing civilians during operations in Mali. The junta's partnership with Russia has raised concerns about its commitment to human rights.
In April, three civil society groups, including the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), filed a case before the African Union's human rights court over alleged abuses in Mali involving its armed forces and Wagner. This case highlights the growing international attention to human rights abuses in Mali and the need for accountability.
The Malian government has not commented on the report, but it is clear that the international community is watching closely. The Amnesty International report is a stark reminder of the need for the Malian government and its international partners to prioritize human rights and accountability in their fight against jihadism.
Key points
- Amnesty International documents war crimes by Mali's armed forces and Russian paramilitary Wagner group.
- The report highlights the targeting of Fulani, Arab, and Tuareg pastoral communities.
- The international community is calling for accountability and an end to human rights abuses in Mali.
