Mali: army and Wagner group accused of atrocities against fulani civilians

Click to expand Image

allegations of summary executions and forced disappearances since january 2025

Since January 2025, Mali’s armed forces and their Russian-backed ally, the Wagner Group, have been implicated in a series of alleged war crimes against Fulani civilians. According to reports, soldiers and mercenaries have carried out dozens of summary executions and forced disappearances, primarily targeting men from the Fulani ethnic group. These actions appear to be part of a broader counterinsurgency campaign against armed Islamist groups operating in the country.

key findings and accusations

• At least 12 Fulani men have been executed, and 81 others forcibly disappeared since January 2025, according to credible reports.
• Witnesses and community leaders allege that both Malian soldiers and Wagner Group fighters have indiscriminately targeted Fulani civilians, accusing them of collaborating with Islamist militants, particularly the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM), an Al-Qaeda affiliate.
• Operations have been conducted in multiple regions, including Kayes, Ségou, and Tombouctou, with reports of mass arrests, torture, and extrajudicial killings.

notable incidents and eyewitness accounts

village of sebabougou, kayes region (april 12, 2025)

On April 12, soldiers and Wagner fighters reportedly detained over 100 Fulani men in Sebabougou, accusing them of ties to Islamist groups. Many were taken to the Kwala military camp, where witnesses claim dozens were executed. While 25 detainees were later transferred to Bamako’s central prison and released without charges, the whereabouts of the remaining individuals remain unknown. By April 21-22, at least 43 bodies were discovered near the camp, though identification was impossible due to decomposition.

village of kourma, Ségou region (march 19, 2025)

On March 19, armed men—identified by witnesses as Malian soldiers and foreign fighters—rounded up 12 Fulani men at a livestock market in Kourma. The victims were beaten, blindfolded, and forcibly taken to Sokolo. Their families have since received no information about their fate.

village of belidanédji, Ségou region (march 30, 2025)

On March 30, six Fulani civilians aged 35 to 63 were executed by soldiers and Wagner fighters during a clash with Islamist militants. Witnesses described how the soldiers shot civilians fleeing or hiding, including a man who was killed while tending to his rice field. Two other Fulani men were detained and tortured at the Molodo military base for two weeks before their whereabouts became known.

village of farana, Tombouctou region (march 26, 2025)

Four Fulani men were arrested, beaten, and likely killed by soldiers near a riverbank in Farana. Witnesses reported finding a pool of blood, human remains, and a bloodstained iron bar. The victims remain missing, and no official information has been provided by authorities.

village of kobou (january 23, 2025)

On January 23, Malian forces entered Kobou, a village under JNIM control, and executed three Fulani men—including a 65-year-old and a 75-year-old—whose bodies were found with blindfolds and tied hands. Soldiers also set fire to at least 30 homes. Survivors fled, fearing retaliation from both Islamist militants and government forces.

village of sikere (may 14, 2025)

Soldiers, Wagner fighters, and Dozo militiamen stormed Sikere, a village with a mixed population of Bambara, Fulani, and Rimaïbé. Four Fulani men were executed after being accused of supporting JNIM. Witnesses reported threats from soldiers, who warned of reprisals if Islamist attacks occurred in nearby villages.

international law and accountability

The actions described violate multiple international legal frameworks, including the Geneva Conventions and the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, to which Mali is a party. The International Criminal Court (ICC) is already investigating alleged war crimes in Mali, and high-ranking Malian and Russian officials could be held accountable for the abuses committed by their forces.

call for urgent action

The African Union (AU) has been urged to increase pressure on Mali’s military junta to:

• Initiate transparent investigations into the alleged crimes.
• Prosecute those responsible in fair and impartial courts.
• Provide reparations to victims’ families.
• Ensure the protection of civilians amid ongoing conflict.

The withdrawal of UN peacekeepers in 2023 and Mali’s exit from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in January 2025 have further reduced avenues for justice, making AU intervention critical.

context: Mali’s ongoing conflict and foreign involvement

Since 2012, Mali has grappled with Islamist insurgencies, including conflicts involving JNIM and the Islamic State in the Sahel Province (ISIS-SP). The 2021 military coup brought a junta to power, which has since relied on the Wagner Group for counterinsurgency operations. Despite official denials, evidence of Wagner’s presence and abuses has mounted, with Russia acknowledging the group’s role in providing security services to Mali’s government.

The recent withdrawal of Wagner fighters, reportedly replaced by Africa Corps—a Russian paramilitary group under direct Kremlin control—has coincided with a surge in Islamist attacks, raising concerns about escalating violence and unchecked abuses.

Legal experts emphasize: commanders and political leaders who enable or order such crimes could face future prosecution under international law.