Human Rights Watch has accused parties to the conflict in Mali of committing serious abuses against civilians following the coordinated attacks of April 25, alleging that the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM), the Malian army, and its Russian allies from the Africa Corps were responsible for violence targeting civilians.
In a report released on Monday, the rights group said JNIM imposed blockades on civilian communities, burned more than 40 civilian vehicles travelling to Bamako, documented the execution of a civilian in the Timbuktu region, and carried out attacks on fuel trucks that contributed to fuel shortages, power outages, and widespread disruption to daily life.
The report said the Malian army and its Russian partners intensified military operations after the April 25 attacks. Human Rights Watch said it documented what it described as violent operations targeting Fulani communities in central Mali, resulting in the deaths of dozens of civilians, including children. It also alleged that drone strikes carried out during the operations killed civilians.
According to the report, clashes in Gao and Kidal left at least 13 civilians dead and 25 others injured in a preliminary toll, while noting that no comprehensive official casualty figures have been released for the April 25 attacks.
Human Rights Watch said it had given Mali’s Ministry of Justice an opportunity to respond to the allegations before publication but received no reply. The organization called on the United Nations and the African Union to support independent efforts to investigate the alleged abuses and hold those responsible to account.
