Nine civilians, including women and children, were reportedly killed last week in Mali’s Segou region when their vehicle came under fire, according to statements from a civil society group and a coalition of Tuareg rebels. The groups have accused Malian armed forces and Russian Wagner mercenaries of carrying out the attack.
The attack occurred on Thursday as a vehicle traveled from the town of Niono to a refugee camp in Mauritania, said Mohamed Elmaouloud Ramadane, spokesperson for a coalition of Tuareg groups seeking independence in northern Mali.
Local civil society association Kal Akal and Ramadane claimed Malian troops and fighters from Wagner, a Russian private military contractor, were responsible for the assault.
However, the leader of Kel Ansar, one of the largest Tuareg groups, issued a separate statement calling for an investigation but suggested Malian forces were not involved in the incident.
Neither Mali’s army nor Wagner representatives responded to requests for comment.
Wagner fighters have been present in Mali since the military seized power in two coups in 2020 and 2021, expelling French and U.N. troops. They now assist Malian forces in combating Islamist insurgents and Tuareg separatists.
The incident follows reports of civilian abuses in the region. In December, Human Rights Watch accused Malian armed forces, supported by Wagner fighters, of committing serious violations of the laws of war, including attacks on civilians.
Human rights organizations and local groups are calling for a thorough investigation into the attack to determine responsibility and ensure justice for the victims.
The ongoing violence underscores the volatile situation in Mali, where tensions between government forces, Russian allies, Islamist militants, and separatist groups continue to escalate.
REUTERS
