Mali: “No One is Spared” War Crimes Committed by the Malian Army and Foreign Allied Forces along the Mauritanian Border.
Mali has faced more than a decade of armed conflict between government forces and various non-state armed groups, contributing to widespread insecurity and serious human rights violations. Military operations intended to combat insurgent groups have increasingly raised concerns about the protection of civilians, particularly in regions where pastoralist communities are suspected of collaborating with armed factions. The involvement of foreign military personnel has further complicated questions of responsibility and accountability.
Against this backdrop, a new report by Amnesty International, published on 29 September 2026, documents alleged war crimes committed by members of the Malian armed forces and personnel from Russia’s Wagner Group during joint operations between 2023 and 2025.
The 75-page report documents the killings of at least 34 civilians across seven localities in the Ségou, Mopti and Timbuktu regions. It also records allegations of torture, enforced disappearances, and the destruction and pillaging of civilian property. According to Amnesty, the victims were not directly participating in hostilities when they were killed. Some were reportedly shot while fleeing or after being arrested, while others were burnt alive or had their throats slit.
One incident occurred on 12 February 2025 in Tin Adanda, in the Timbuktu region, where four people were killed during a joint patrol by Malian forces and Wagner personnel. Hana, a survivor who sought refuge in Mauritania, lost two sons and a cousin who were arrested and killed. She recalled that those involved were “mostly white men, accompanied by FAMa” (Malian armed forces (Forces armées maliennes – FAMa).
The report also details two drone strikes by Malian forces in the Timbuktu region: one targeting a market in Ejdeir in March 2025 and another hitting a family home in Tangata in November. These attacks reportedly killed at least 23 people, including five children. No evidence of armed group members or military objectives was found at either site. However, if confirmed, these incidents could amount to war crimes under international humanitarian law.
Torture and arbitrary detention were also documented. Fifteen male survivors described being tortured during joint patrols or detention at military bases in Léré and Nampala. Reported methods included beatings, electric shocks and simulated drowning. Witnesses alleged that five detainees died because of torture and poor detention conditions.
According to the report, Wagner personnel often committed abuses in the presence of Malian soldiers, who failed to intervene. Detainees were reportedly denied access to lawyers, families and judicial authorities.
The investigation further identified a pattern of violence against Fulani, Arab and Tuareg pastoralist communities. Victims were reportedly suspected of supporting armed groups because of their ethnicity or presence in conflict-affected areas. Amnesty warned that such practices expose entire communities to discrimination and collective punishment.
Based on interviews with 119 Malian refugees in Mauritania between 2025 and 2026, the report calls for impartial investigations and independent accountability mechanisms.
Although the findings were shared with Malian authorities in August 2026, no response had been received by publication. Following Wagner’s departure in June 2025 and its replacement by Russia’s Africa Corps, the authorities have also been urged to clarify the chain of command and publish the agreement governing the latter’s presence in Mali, while the African Union is called on to support efforts to end impunity.
Mali’s notification of withdrawal from the Rome Statute in June 2026 has raised further questions about international accountability. However, the International Criminal Court’s ongoing investigations will not automatically end, and the Court retains jurisdiction over crimes within its mandate committed before the withdrawal takes effect on 23 June 2027.
The documented allegations expose the devastating human cost of Mali’s military operations and the consequences of continued impunity. Without independent investigations and accountability for those responsible, civilians will remain vulnerable to further abuses. The Malian authorities must act to ensure that no military force operates above the law and that justice is delivered to victims, regardless of the perpetrators’ rank or affiliation.
written by Clara Pescatori
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