Civilian lives lost in targeted violence amid Mali’s escalating conflict
At least 31 civilians were killed and several homes set ablaze in two villages of Mali’s conflict-stricken Ségou region during coordinated operations involving the national army and allied militias, according to field investigations. The attacks, which unfolded on October 2 and October 13, targeted civilians in areas under the influence of the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (GSIM or JNIM), an Al-Qaeda-affiliated faction active in the region.
On October 2, soldiers alongside Dozos—traditional hunters from the Bambara ethnic group who have participated in counterinsurgency efforts for over a decade—launched an assault on Kamona. Witnesses reported that troops, arriving in seven pickup trucks and three armored vehicles accompanied by Dozo fighters on motorcycles, systematically hunted down male residents. At least 21 men were executed, and 10 homes were burned to the ground. Survivors recounted how those unable to flee were gathered and shot at close range.
« The October massacres in Ségou reflect a disturbing pattern of violence linked to the Malian military and its allied militias, » stated a senior Sahel researcher. « Authorities must conduct transparent investigations and hold perpetrators accountable through fair judicial processes. »
On October 13, a similar operation unfolded in Balle, approximately 55 kilometers from Kamona. Soldiers in five pickup trucks and Dozo fighters on at least 30 motorcycles descended on the village, triggering panic among residents. A 24-year-old man described how soldiers went door-to-door, assaulting men before opening fire. The attack claimed 10 lives, including that of a 55-year-old woman, and resulted in the theft of over 100 cattle. Bodies were found strewn across the village, some with severe injuries, including broken limbs.
Local testimonies paint a grim picture of the violence. In Kamona, a 40-year-old shepherd hiding with his 9-year-old daughter recounted discovering 17 bullet-riddled bodies beneath a tree after the assailants departed. « Their heads were shattered, and spent cartridges littered the ground, » he said. Another villager, aged 39, described burying 17 men in a mass grave, with four additional bodies found north of the village—all displaying gunshot wounds to the head and torso.
Residents of Balle, a village under GSIM control for years, reported paying Islamic taxes (zakat) to the group and relying on its adjudication for disputes. « The army makes no distinction between us and the jihadists, » one man explained. « They assume we are GSIM fighters simply because we live here. »
The Malian military justified the October 13 operation as a « reconnaissance mission » that « neutralized around twenty terrorists » and seized military equipment. However, witnesses and residents firmly denied the presence of armed groups during the attacks, asserting that Balle had been under GSIM control for an extended period.
Since 2012, Mali has grappled with armed conflicts involving Islamist groups, leading to thousands of civilian deaths and displacing over 402,000 people. Both state forces and allied militias, as well as armed factions like GSIM, have been documented committing grave abuses. The recent surge in violence follows GSIM’s siege on Bamako, which disrupted fuel supplies and prompted the military junta to temporarily shutter all schools and universities nationwide.
International humanitarian law prohibits attacks on civilians, extrajudicial killings, and cruel treatment of detainees. Perpetrators of war crimes, including those acting under command responsibility, may face prosecution. While Mali withdrew from the International Criminal Court (ICC) in September, it remains a State Party to the Rome Statute until September 2026, with the ICC having opened an investigation into alleged war crimes in the country since 2012.
The African Union (AU) has faced criticism for its limited response to the deteriorating security situation in Mali. Despite its mandate to promote peace and security, the AU’s Peace and Security Council has largely confined itself to issuing statements expressing concern, failing to implement concrete measures to address the crisis.
« The AU must prioritize the conflict in Mali, » stressed the senior researcher. « It should convene regular briefings, strengthen diplomatic efforts, and coordinate regional and international actions to ensure accountability for abuses by all parties. »
