According to a report by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Malian army and “foreign” fighters were accused Friday of executing at least 500 people during an anti-jihadist operation in Moura, in the center of the country, in March 2022. The Office of the High Commissioner said it had reasonable grounds to believe that the Malian armed forces and foreign military personnel carried out the executions after the area was under full control between March 27 and 31, 2022. Among the victims were about twenty women and seven children. In addition, it was mentioned that 58 women and girls were victims of rape and other forms of sexual violence.
The report, based on an investigation by the human rights division of the United Nations Mission in Mali (MINUSMA), also mentions cases of torture of detainees. These acts could constitute war crimes and, depending on the circumstances, crimes against humanity, according to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Although the report does not explicitly identify “foreigners,” it refers to official statements by the Malian government on the involvement of Russian “instructors” in the fight against jihadists, as well as statements attributed to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on the presence in Mali of the Russian private security group Wagner. The UN collects witness testimonies describing these foreigners as white men dressed in camouflage clothing and speaking an unknown language.
These allegations raise serious concerns about grave human rights violations and possible international crimes. The international community should take steps to thoroughly investigate these events and ensure that those responsible are brought to justice.