Human Rights Watch released a report documenting serious violations of international humanitarian law by multiple armed parties in Mali. The rights organization stated that the Malian military and its Russian-aligned paramilitary partner, Africa Corps, have killed and wounded numerous civilians through attacks and while in custody. Opposition armed groups, including Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin and the Azawad Liberation Front, have also committed breaches of the laws of war, including torture and execution of captured soldiers.
The HRW investigation, conducted between late July and mid-September, was based on interviews with 30 individuals including witnesses, rights defenders, community leaders, journalists, and a Malian military member. The report documented two drone strikes by Malian forces that appear to have been indiscriminate in nature. An attack on July 29 in the Kidal region damaged a health facility, while an August 19 strike on a market in Bandiagara resulted in six civilian deaths and at least 20 wounded. Additional documented incidents include the killing of five girls by Malian soldiers in Segou and three civilian deaths inflicted by the Dozo militia in Mopti.
The report also examined attacks by opposition forces, including a July 18 incident in the Gao region where JNIM and Azawad Liberation Front fighters killed at least 19 captured Malian troops. While both groups provided statements regarding their involvement, they disputed responsibility for the executions.
Data analyzed by the nongovernmental group Armed Conflict Location and Event Data indicated a significant increase in air operations during the period from April to August, with 49 strikes resulting in 89 civilian deaths, more than double the casualty count from the corresponding period in the preceding year. HRW called on the African Union’s Peace and Security Council to take urgent action to prevent further atrocities in Mali, which has experienced ongoing conflict and instability since 2012.
Article Attribution | Read More at Article Source
Article summary produced by Claude AI