Investigations Urgently Needed Into Indiscriminate Drone Strikes and Summary Killings in Mali
In recent months, Malian armed forces and foreign fighters from the Wagner Group have been accused of committing horrific abuses, including the unlawful killing and summary execution of dozens of civilians during counterinsurgency operations in Mali’s central and northern regions. These abuses have raised serious concerns about the human rights situation in the country, especially as Mali’s transitional military government, backed by Russia, has been accused of trying to eliminate scrutiny into its actions.
The United Nations Human Rights Council’s independent expert on human rights in Mali has been instrumental in assisting the Malian government to protect human rights. However, with the mandate of this expert set to expire soon, there are urgent calls for its renewal and the allocation of adequate resources to ensure continued monitoring of human rights violations in Mali.
Human Rights Watch has conducted interviews with witnesses and survivors of these abuses, shedding light on the atrocities committed by Malian armed forces and Wagner Group fighters. From drone strikes on wedding celebrations to summary executions in villages, the reports paint a grim picture of the situation in Mali.
The use of Turkish-made Bayraktar TB2 drones in these attacks has raised further concerns about the indiscriminate targeting of civilians. Witnesses have reported instances where civilians were targeted and killed, with no presence of armed groups at the scene.
The international community must take action to hold those responsible for these abuses to account. All parties involved in the armed conflict in Mali, including foreign armed groups, must be held to the standards of international humanitarian law. The deliberate cruelty shown by the Malian army and Wagner Group fighters must be thoroughly investigated as potential war crimes.
As the situation in Mali continues to deteriorate, it is crucial for the UN Human Rights Council to renew the mandate of the independent expert on human rights in Mali and ensure that the necessary resources are provided to address these grave violations. The voices of the victims and witnesses must be heard, and justice must be served for those who have suffered at the hands of these brutal attacks.
