Brief
HRW says Mali’s army and Russian‑linked forces kill and wound civilians
The rights group documented drone attacks, market bombings and militia killings that violated international humanitarian law.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Human Rights Watch released a report on Monday saying Mali’s military and its Russian‑backed paramilitary, the Africa Corps, have killed and wounded scores of civilians in breach of international humanitarian law, while opposition armed groups have also committed war‑crimes.
The report, based on interviews with 30 witnesses, defenders, journalists and a Malian soldier between late July and mid‑September, documents two apparently indiscriminate drone strikes by the Malian army. The first, on 29 July, hit a health facility in the Kidal region of northeastern Mali. The second, on 19 August, struck a market in Bandiagara in central Mali, killing six civilians and wounding at least 20.
HRW also recorded an operation in the Segou region where soldiers shot and killed five girls, and a separate incident in Mopti where members of the Dozo militia, allied with the military, killed three civilians with impunity.
In addition to the army’s actions, the report says armed groups, including the separatist Azawad Liberation Front, have tortured and executed captured Malian soldiers. An attack on a military convoy in Gao on 18 July was also noted.
HRW urged the African Union’s Peace and Security Council to act urgently to prevent further atrocities, noting that international organisations and governments have largely stood by while the violations continue.
Key facts
- HRW documented two drone strikes by the Malian military that hit civilian targets in July and August 2026 (aljazeera.com)
- The July 29 strike destroyed part of a health facility in Kidal (aljazeera.com)
- The August 19 strike on a market in Bandiagara killed six civilians and wounded at least 20 (aljazeera.com)
- Malian soldiers shot five girls in Segou and Dozo militia killed three civilians in Mopti (aljazeera.com)
- HRW called on the African Union’s Peace and Security Council to intervene (aljazeera.com)
Sources
- [1] aljazeera.com — originally reported as “Mali’s military and armed groups committing abuses against civilians: HRW”
