Mali Junta Probes Alleged Killing of Civilians by Soldiers

The Malian military has on Friday, February 21, announced an investigation into the alleged killing of at least 24 civilians by its soldiers and Russian Wagner mercenaries.

The Front for the Liberation of Azawad (FLA), a Tuareg separatist movement in northern Mali had claimed that Malian soldiers and Wagner fighters intercepted two civilian transport vehicles travelling from the Gao city to Algeria on Monday. The group accused the soldiers of coldly executing at least 24 passengers, including women and children, describing the incident as a deliberate act of violence against civilians.

Relatives of three victims and a spokesperson for the local human rights association Kal Akal confirmed the incident to Reuters. A family member of the driver said one of the vehicles was transporting migrants.

In a separate attack, the FLA reported that Malian forces and Wagner fighters killed four people on Sunday in the village of Aslagh in Kidal.

The probe, a rare move under Mali’s military-led government, has been met with scepticism from analysts and human rights groups, who question whether the authorities will hold anyone accountable.

The Mali junta initially refuted the claims, accusing opponents of conducting a misleading campaign against the armed forces. By Friday, the government announced an official investigation into the alleged killings, representing a notable response from an administration that has predominantly dismissed previous allegations by security forces and their Russian allies.

“The objective of the investigations is going to be more about countering the allegations against (the army) and Wagner, rather than trying to find any wrongdoing by the latter,” Rida Lyammouri, a senior fellow at Morocco’s Policy Center for the New South, told ABC News. “The conclusion of the investigation is likely to say that those allegations are false.”

Since taking power, Mali’s military government has been accused of suppressing independent reporting and limiting the ability of human rights organisations to operate freely. The United Nations peacekeeping mission, which previously documented rights abuses by all sides in Mali’s conflict, was expelled from the country last year.

The Wagner Group, which was deployed to Mali following the junta’s fallout with Western security partners, has been accused of committing atrocities in other conflict zones, including the Central African Republic and Ukraine. Despite these allegations, Malian authorities have consistently defended the group, describing them as “military instructors” assisting in the fight against jihadists.

Analysts asserted that the investigation could have significant consequences for Mali’s already strained international relations. The military government’s close alliance with Wagner has drawn criticism from Western governments and human rights organisations.

“If the investigation is seen as an attempt to cover up the killings, Mali risks further diplomatic isolation, which could lead to economic sanctions and reduced international support,” said Mammadou Umarou, a security analyst in the Sahel. 

The United States and European Union have already imposed sanctions on Mali’s leadership, citing human rights concerns and its collaboration with Wagner, while France had withdrawn its military from the conflict. 

“A failure to conduct a credible investigation could push Mali further into the sphere of Russian influence, deepening its dependence on Moscow for military and economic support,” Umarou said. 

Domestically, the allegations have the potential to escalate tensions between the Malian state and communities in the north, particularly among Tuareg populations who have long felt marginalised by the central government. 

Northern Mali has been a hotspot for separatist movements, and accusations of targeted killings could fuel further resentment, possibly reigniting demands for autonomy or independence.

In recent months, violence in the region has intensified, with Tuareg rebels resuming attacks against government forces following the collapse of a 2015 peace agreement. 

“If communities believe that the investigation is merely a public relations exercise, it could drive more people toward armed groups, worsening Mali’s already precarious security situation,” he explained. 

It is not the first time Mali’s military has been accused of committing atrocities against civilians. Reports from human rights organisations have documented multiple instances of extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, and mass executions by the armed forces, particularly in regions where jihadist and separatist groups are active.

In March 2022, Malian soldiers and Wagner fighters were accused of killing over 300 people in the central town of Moura during a counterinsurgency operation. 

The Malian government initially denied any wrongdoing, later claiming that the operation was a success against jihadist militants. International organisations, including Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, condemned the incident, calling for an independent investigation which never materialised.

The current probe into the civilian deaths near Gao follows a similar pattern. Critics argue that without independent oversight, the investigation is unlikely to result in justice for the victims or accountability for those responsible.