United Nations experts today expressed profound outrage over reports indicating the execution of dozens of people through summary procedures and enforced disappearances in Mali, warning that these serious violations may amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity, especially if proven to be part of systematic attacks targeting civilians.
The experts emphasized the necessity of conducting immediate, independent, and transparent investigations into these incidents, stressing that the Malian authorities’ failure to do so constitutes a violation of the right to life in itself.
The United Nations called on the Malian government to bear its responsibilities under international law, urging accountability for those responsible for these violations, whether they are local or foreign military and security personnel, particularly those affiliated with the Russian-based Wagner Group.
Regarding details of the incident; reports indicated that the Malian armed forces arrested about 100 men from the Fulani group on April 12 last year, with the assistance of Wagner Group elements. After being subjected to torture and interrogation at the Koulako military camp, dozens of them were executed, and their bodies were found scattered near the camp one week after their disappearance, while the fate of more than 60 individuals remains unknown, raising growing international concern over the nature of security operations in the country.
For its part, the Malian armed forces denied in an official statement issued on April 28 that they had targeted civilians, affirming that their military operations were directed solely at what they referred to as “terrorist groups.” However, international experts questioned the credibility of this statement, pointing to strong evidence indicating arbitrary targeting of civilians not involved in hostilities.
The experts highlighted the importance of the International Criminal Court’s role in monitoring these violations, especially since the Office of the Prosecutor opened a prior investigation into the humanitarian situation in Mali since 2013. They stressed that failing to hold the perpetrators of these crimes accountable will reinforce the phenomenon of impunity, threaten regional stability, and could be used as a pretext for recruiting more sympathizers by extremist groups. The experts called on the international community to support efforts aimed at achieving justice and protecting civilians in Mali.
