Mali’s armed forces, bolstered by Russian Wagner mercenaries, have been accused of committing severe abuses against civilians following the withdrawal of a United Nations peacekeeping mission last year, according to a report released Thursday by Human Rights Watch.

The report alleges that since May, Malian forces and Wagner operatives deliberately killed at least 32 civilians, including seven in a drone strike, kidnapped four individuals, and burned at least 100 homes across towns and villages in central and northern Mali.

Meanwhile, Islamist armed groups in the region have executed 47 civilians and displaced thousands, further destabilizing the area.

“The Malian army with the Wagner Group and Islamist armed groups have been targeting civilians and their property in violation of the laws of war,” said Ilaria Allegrozzi, senior Sahel researcher at Human Rights Watch.

Mali has struggled with a decade-long insurgency waged by jihadist groups linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State.

Recent military coups in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger have compounded the crisis, with ruling juntas expelling French forces and seeking assistance from Russia’s Wagner Group.

The mercenaries, active in Mali since late 2021, replaced international peacekeepers and French troops but have faced accusations of civilian atrocities, including drone strikes and raids.

In December 2022, the United Nations ended its decade-long peacekeeping mission in Mali, known as MINUSMA, at the government’s request.

Allegrozzi noted that the mission’s absence has made it “extremely difficult to get comprehensive information on abuses,” raising fears that the situation is worse than reported.

The departure of MINUSMA marked a turning point in Mali’s security strategy, as the government openly embraced Russian support. Wagner’s involvement has led to significant shifts in regional dynamics, with its fighters offering military backing while securing access to valuable resources such as gold mines.

Wagner’s Growing Influence In The Sahel

The Sahel region has witnessed a surge in Russian influence. Wagner’s deployment of 1,500 to 2,000 fighters has become a cornerstone of this expansion, offering local governments “regime survival packages” to counter jihadist threats.

In exchange, Wagner has obtained lucrative contracts for natural resources, intertwining its military operations with economic exploitation.

Russia’s strategic foothold in the Sahel underscores a broader decline in Western influence. France and the United States, once dominant in the region, have faced criticism for their perceived ineffectiveness in addressing escalating violence.

This disillusionment has fueled a pivot toward Moscow, as Sahelian states seek partnerships free from the political conditions typically imposed by Western nations.

Mali’s reliance on Wagner highlights a shift toward diversified foreign alliances to bolster sovereignty and autonomy. However, these partnerships have not alleviated the humanitarian crisis gripping the region.

The ongoing violence has devastated nomadic communities reliant on livestock and traditional livelihoods.

Human Rights Watch’s report details widespread destruction, including the burning of thousands of homes and the looting of livestock by both Malian forces and jihadist groups. These actions have displaced thousands, exacerbating the region’s humanitarian crisis.

For civilians, the situation remains dire. In villages targeted by drone strikes, survivors recount harrowing experiences of losing loved ones and livelihoods. “The abuses committed by both state and non-state actors underscore the urgent need for accountability and protection of civilian lives,” Allegrozzi stated.

As such, while Russia’s Wagner Group consolidates its presence, the international community faces mounting pressure to address the region’s deteriorating human rights situation.