Mali investigates alleged execution of civilians by soldiers and Russian mercenaries

Mali’s military government has initiated an investigation into the alleged ‘cold execution’ of at least 24 civilians, including women and children, in the volatile northern part of the Sahel country.
The accusations were made by the Tuareg separatist group, the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA), which is battling the Malian government in the same region. According to the FLA, Malian soldiers, in collaboration with Russian Wagner Group mercenaries, intercepted two civilian vehicles traveling from Gao to Algeria last Monday (17 February) and then “coldly executed” those detained civilians. At first, the Malian military dismissed the claims as baseless, suggesting they were propagated by “terrorist networks” and their supporters. However, the army later announced it was investigating the incident, marking a rare inquiry into potential human rights violations since the military took power in 2020.
Mali has maintained controversial ties with the Russian mercenaries, who were hired after the junta severed relations with France and UN peacekeepers. The accusations come amid ongoing struggles between the Malian government, Tuareg rebels, and jihadist groups, as well as allegations of human rights abuses against both state forces and their Russian allies. Analysts are skeptical about the investigation’s outcome, suggesting it may be more about countering these allegations than addressing any wrongdoing. The investigation unfolds against the backdrop of Mali’s tense relationship with the West African regional bloc ECOWAS, following the country’s withdrawal from the organization and a growing reliance on Russia for security.