The Human Rights Watch (HRW) released a report on Thursday detailing serious human rights abuses committed by Mali’s armed forces in collaboration with Russian mercenaries Africa Corps (formerly Wagner Group) following the withdrawal of a United Nations peacekeeping mission late last year.

The report indicates that since May 2024, these forces have intentionally killed at least 32 civilians including seven casualties from a drone strike, and have burnt over 100 homes in various towns and villages across central and northern Mali. HRW further highlighted that the Malian military and the Wagner Group have engaged in systematic violence against civilians, including abductions and widespread destruction of property.

The organization’s findings also point to extremist groups in the region, which have executed at least 47 civilians without due process and displaced thousands since June, highlighting that these groups have been responsible for additional atrocities, including the destruction of more than 1,000 homes and the theft of livestock critical to local livelihoods. The report further called for the Malian authorities to collaborate with the National Human Rights Commission and the United Nations (UN) Independent Expert on human rights in Mali to establish a reliable mechanism for monitoring and reporting on the abuses committed by both armed groups and security forces.

Mali has been embroiled in conflict for over a decade, primarily due to an insurgency led by jihadist groups linked to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State. Following a series of military coups, the transitional government expelled French troops and sought security assistance from Russian mercenaries which rebranded itself . This shift has resulted in increased violence against civilians, raising concerns about human rights violations amidst ongoing military operations against both jihadist factions and local communities accused of collaboration.

The situation has deteriorated significantly since the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) completed its withdrawal on December 31, 2023. This departure has raised alarms regarding the protection of civilians and monitoring of abuses by all parties involved in the conflict. The Malian government has faced criticism from numerous rights groups for failing to hold those responsible for these violations accountable.