Bamako — Malian soldiers and allied militias carried out a brutal assault on two villages in the conflict-stricken Ségou region, leaving at least 31 civilians dead and homes reduced to ashes on October 2 and 13, according to field investigations.
On October 2, uniformed troops accompanied by dozos—traditional hunters from the Bambara ethnic group who have joined counterinsurgency efforts for over a decade—stormed the village of Kamona. Survivors reported that soldiers and militiamen, identifiable by their camouflage fatigues and traditional amulets, rounded up male residents and executed them without trial. At least 21 men were killed, and over 10 homes were set ablaze. The attackers, who arrived in seven pickup trucks, three armored vehicles, and on motorcycles, had been alerted to the army’s advance by jihadist fighters, prompting many villagers to flee. Those who remained were hunted down.
« Those who couldn’t escape were gathered and shot dead, » a survivor recounted. Witnesses confirmed no clashes occurred; the Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimeen (JNIM), an Al-Qaeda affiliate controlling the area, had already withdrawn before the military arrived.
Locals later discovered 17 bodies under a tree and four more north of the village. The victims, all men aged 20 to 65, had been shot at close range. A 40-year-old herder, who hid with his 9-year-old daughter, described the scene: « The bodies were riddled with bullets. One man’s skull was shattered. Empty casings littered the ground. » Survivors compiled a list of 21 names, though they suspect at least 15 additional men were killed in nearby bushland. « We heard gunfire but dared not check—we feared the soldiers would return, » a resident admitted.
On October 13, soldiers and dozos struck again, this time in Balle, 55 kilometers away. The assault began around 1 p.m., forcing some villagers to flee immediately. Others were beaten or kicked as troops conducted door-to-door searches. « I tried to stay hidden, but when I heard gunshots, I ran, » a 24-year-old man recalled. The attackers killed 10 civilians, including a 55-year-old woman, and stole over 100 cattle. A 33-year-old man found the bodies strewn in the village center: « They lay side by side, shot to pieces. Some had broken limbs. »
The woman’s 21-year-old daughter witnessed her mother’s death. « She shouted at the soldiers, accusing them of cruelty, » the daughter said. « They dragged her to where the men were held and executed her. »
Military officials claimed the October 13 operation was an « offensive reconnaissance » that « neutralized around twenty terrorists » and seized weapons. Yet residents insisted Balle has been under JNIM control for years. « We pay Islamic taxes to them, » a villager explained. « They settle disputes. There are no soldiers, gendarmes, or police here. The army doesn’t distinguish between us and them. »
Since 2012, Mali’s governments have waged war against Islamist armed groups, leaving thousands of civilians dead and displacing over 400,000 people. Both state forces and their allied militias, as well as jihadist factions like JNIM, have been documented committing grave abuses. The recent attacks followed JNIM’s siege of Bamako in early September, which severed fuel supplies to the capital and forced authorities to shutter schools nationwide.
Under international humanitarian law, all conflict parties must protect civilians. Attacks targeting non-combatants, executions, and torture constitute war crimes. Perpetrators—whether acting on criminal intent or command responsibility—can face prosecution. Though Mali withdrew from the International Criminal Court (ICC) in September, it remains bound by the Rome Statute until 2026. The ICC opened an investigation into alleged war crimes in Mali in 2013.
The African Union (AU) has largely failed to address Mali’s escalating crisis despite its mandate to uphold peace and security. While the situation worsens, the AU’s Peace and Security Council has limited its response to issuing statements of concern.
« The AU must prioritize Mali’s conflict, » a regional observer noted. « It should hold regular briefings, strengthen diplomatic efforts, and coordinate regional and international actions to ensure accountability for abuses by all parties. »
