Amnesty International: Malian Forces, Wagner Group Accused of War Crimes

Members of Mali's armed forces working together with personnel from the Wagner Group committed war crimes, including the murder and torture of civilians, during joint operations between 2023 and 2025, Amnesty International said in a new report. 'No one is spared': War crimes committed by the Malian army and foreign allied forces along the Mauritanian border documents the killings of at least 34 civilians in seven localities in Mali between June 2023 and December 2025, committed by the Malian armed forces (Forces armées maliennes - FAMa) and the Wagner Group (a Russian private military company active in Mali between late 2021 and June 2025). Follow us on WhatsApp | LinkedIn for the latest headlines READ OUR REPORT: 'No one is spared': War crimes committed by the Malian army and foreign allied forces along the Mauritanian border The report also documents other serious violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law, such as torture, enforced disappearance, and the pillaging and destruction of civilian property. "Our conclusions paint a harrowing picture of the lives of civilians trapped in the conflict, paying the ultimate price while impunity remains rampant. The Malian authorities cannot dismiss these serious allegations without opening impartial and effective investigations into the alleged crimes," said Marceau Sivieude, Amnesty International's Regional Director for West and Central Africa. "They must protect civilians during military operations, comply with and ensure respect for international humanitarian law, urgently clarify the chain of command under which foreign personnel act in the country, and monitor their conduct through an independent, domestic accountability mechanism." Unlawful killings of civilians The report provides details of seven incidents during which 34 people were unlawfully killed in the Ségou, Mopti and Timbuktu regions. Based on information gathered by Amnesty International, none of the victims were taking direct part in hostilities at the time of their deaths. They were deliberately shot while trying to flee or after being arrested. Some had their throats slit, others were burnt alive or post-mortem. In Tin Adanda, a small hamlet in the Timbuktu region, four people were killed on 12 February 2025 during a joint patrol by FAMa and Wagner. Hana*, a survivor who has taken refuge in Mberra (Mauritania), lost two sons and a cousin who were arrested and then killed. Describing the members of the military operation, she said: "They were mostly white men, accompanied by FAMa." Civilians in conflict-affected regions in Mali continue to face grave risks. The authorities must protect them.Marceau Sivieude, Amnesty International's Regional Director for West and Central Africa Drone strikes on civilians The report details two drone strikes carried out by the FAMa which targeted a market in Ejdeir (16 March 2025) and a family home in Tangata (November 2025) in the Timbuktu region, killing in total at least 23 people, including at least five children. "We found no evidence of the presence of members of armed groups or military objectives at either drone strike site. If confirmed, these strikes would amount to direct attacks on civilians and civilian objects, and should be investigated as possible war crimes," said Marceau Sivieude. In Ejdeir, the drone strike hit a market without warning, during the day. On 17 March 2025, the Malian military stated that it had targeted "terrorist gatherings" in a transit camp 109km northwest of Léré, killing "11 terrorists". According to Amnesty's analysis, the details provided by the FAMa, particularly the location correspond to the Ejdeir drone strike. Even if fighters or military objectives were present, attacking a market at a time when it was full of civilians in a manner that caused civilian casualties would be indiscriminate. Indiscriminate attacks that kill and injure civilians are war crimes if carried out inten