Amnesty International has alleged that members of Mali’s armed forces and personnel from Russia’s Wagner Group committed war crimes, including unlawful killings, torture and enforced disappearances, during joint military operations.
The rights organisation documented the killings of at least 34 civilians across seven localities in Mali between June 2023 and December 2025, with the incidents concentrated in the Ségou, Mopti and Timbuktu regions.
The findings contained in a report, ‘No one is spared’: War crimes committed by the Malian army and foreign allied forces along the Mauritanian border.
The investigation details allegations of serious violations of international humanitarian and human rights law, including torture, enforced disappearance, pillaging and the destruction of civilian property.
According to Amnesty International, the alleged abuses occurred during joint operations involving the Malian armed forces, known as the Forces armées maliennes (FAMa), and the Wagner Group, the Russian private military company that operated in Mali from late 2021 until June 2025.
The allegations place renewed attention on the human cost of Mali’s prolonged armed conflict, particularly in communities located along the country’s border with Mauritania and in areas where armed groups have maintained a presence.
The report also raises questions about accountability for foreign personnel operating alongside national armed forces and the responsibility of state authorities to prevent abuses committed during counterinsurgency operations.
Amnesty International’s Regional Director for West and Central Africa, Marceau Sivieude, noted that the investigation revealed the extent to which civilians had become exposed to violence during military operations.
“Our conclusions paint a harrowing picture of the lives of civilians trapped in the conflict, paying the ultimate price while impunity remains rampant. The Malian authorities cannot dismiss these serious allegations without opening impartial and effective investigations into the alleged crimes.
“They must protect civilians during military operations, comply with and ensure respect for international humanitarian law, urgently clarify the chain of command under which foreign personnel act in the country, and monitor their conduct through an independent, domestic accountability mechanism.”
Marceau Sivieude
According to Amnesty, the alleged abuses were not limited to individual incidents but reflected a wider pattern affecting communities viewed by security forces as having links to non-state armed groups.
The organisation stated that the vast majority of victims identified in its investigation belonged to pastoralist communities, including Fulani, Arabs and Tuaregs.
Their treatment, Amnesty argued, was frequently connected to assumptions that pastoralist communities were supporting armed groups, raising concerns over the use of ethnic identity and geographical location as grounds for suspicion.
Killings, Drone Strikes and Torture Deepen Civilian Protection Concerns
Amnesty’s investigation identified seven incidents in which at least 34 civilians were allegedly unlawfully killed in Ségou, Mopti and Timbuktu.
The organisation noted that none of those killed were directly participating in hostilities at the time of their deaths.
According to accounts gathered during the investigation, some victims were shot while attempting to flee, while others were allegedly killed after being arrested. Amnesty also documented allegations that some victims had their throats slit or were burned, including instances in which bodies were allegedly burned after death.
The investigation also examined two drone strikes conducted by FAMa in the Timbuktu region in 2025.
One strike targeted a market in Ejdeir on 16 March, while another hit a family home in Tangata in November. Amnesty noted that the two attacks killed at least 23 people, including at least five children.
“We found no evidence of the presence of members of armed groups or military objectives at either drone strike site. If confirmed, these strikes would amount to direct attacks on civilians and civilian objects, and should be investigated as possible war crimes.”
Marceau Sivieude
The allegations present a significant accountability challenge for Mali, particularly as the country’s security strategy continues to rely on military operations against armed groups.
Amnesty is calling on the Malian government to make public the agreement governing the operations of Africa Corps in the country, arguing that transparency over the chain of command is necessary to establish responsibility for alleged abuses.
“We urge the Malian authorities to ensure comprehensive accountability for war crimes committed against all communities. They must ensure that the FAMa, foreign military partners and members of armed groups suspected of war crimes are investigated and prosecuted as required in proceedings that comply with the right to a fair trial, without recourse to the death penalty.”
Marceau Sivieude
The organisation has also called on the African Union to condemn violations of international humanitarian law in Mali and support efforts to establish accountability for crimes under international law.
