Mali: Military Attacks on Civilians Escalate Amid Insurgent Abuses

• Malian armed forces and their allies, including the Russia-controlled Africa Corps, have conducted abusive counterinsurgency operations since July 2026, resulting in scores of civilian casualties.
• Islamist and separatist groups, such as JNIM and FLA, have also committed war crimes, including the torture and execution of at least 19 captured Malian soldiers.
• Human Rights Watch documented specific incidents, including two indiscriminate drone strikes by Malian forces that killed six civilians and injured at least 20 others.
• These widespread abuses by both state and non-state actors are occurring amidst renewed fighting in Mali, which intensified following coordinated insurgent attacks in April.
• Human Rights Watch urges the African Union Peace and Security Council to take urgent action to prevent further atrocities and ensure accountability for all parties involved.

The Malian military, various armed groups, and insurgent forces are committing grave laws-of-war violations while international bodies and governments largely remain passive.

The nation of Mali has been gripped by a severe escalation of violence since July 2026, as its armed forces and their allies have responded to increasing attacks from Islamist and separatist groups with highly abusive counterinsurgency operations. These actions have led to widespread violations of international humanitarian law, resulting in the deaths and injuries of scores of civilians, both during direct attacks and while in custody. The Russia-controlled Africa Corps, formerly known as the Wagner Group, operates alongside the Malian military and is implicated in these abuses.

Simultaneously, Islamist and separatist fighters, including the Al-Qaeda-linked Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM) and the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA), have also committed grave breaches of the laws of war. Their documented transgressions include the torture and execution of captured Malian soldiers. This cycle of violence unfolds against a backdrop of renewed conflict, which intensified following coordinated attacks by JNIM and FLA in April, aimed at overthrowing the military junta led by General Assimi Goïta, a regime supported by the Africa Corps.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) has meticulously documented several incidents highlighting the severe impact of Malian military operations on civilian populations. On July 29, an apparently indiscriminate drone strike in Talahandak village, located in the northern Kidal region, partially destroyed a health facility. Another such strike occurred on August 19 at a bustling market in Tombonkore village, in the central Bandiagara region, tragically killing six civilians and injuring at least 20 others. A 24-year-old survivor of the August 19 attack recounted being propelled more than 15 meters by the blast, finding his right leg completely shredded and bleeding profusely.

Beyond aerial assaults, ground operations have also resulted in civilian deaths. On July 12, Malian soldiers fatally shot five girls during a counterinsurgency operation in the central Ségou region. Furthermore, on July 27 and 28, allied Dozo militia members killed three civilians in the central Mopti region, with all these incidents reportedly occurring with impunity. These actions are part of a broader pattern where Malian armed forces and their partners have conducted reprisals against ethnic communities suspected of collaborating with insurgent groups.

The Islamist and separatist factions have likewise demonstrated a disregard for international humanitarian law, particularly concerning the treatment of captured combatants. Following an attack on a military convoy in the Gao region on July 18, the Al-Qaeda-linked JNIM and allied FLA fighters subjected at least 19 captured Malian troops to torture before executing them. This specific incident took place in Tabrichat, within the Gao region, after the soldiers had surrendered.

Since their coordinated offensive in April, JNIM and the FLA have increasingly captured and detained Malian security personnel. Concerns regarding the humane treatment of these prisoners have grown significantly, especially after the two armed groups publicly claimed responsibility for the July 18 attack and the subsequent brutal killings of the surrendered Malian troops. These actions constitute clear violations of the laws of war, which mandate the protection of those no longer participating in hostilities.

Human Rights Watch conducted its investigation between July 30 and September 20, 2026, gathering extensive evidence through remote interviews with 30 individuals, including 16 direct witnesses to abuses, human rights defenders, community leaders, journalists, and a Malian soldier. The organization further corroborated its findings by verifying and geolocating two online videos depicting the aftermath of a drone strike, analyzing 12 photographs of drone debris, and reviewing additional images and videos of casualties from other documented incidents. A letter detailing these findings and questions was sent to Mali's defense minister on August 5, but no response was received.

In light of these findings, HRW has issued an urgent appeal to the African Union Peace and Security Council (AU PSC) to intervene and prevent further atrocities in Mali. The organization emphasized that the Malian military, various armed groups, and insurgent forces are committing grave laws-of-war violations while international bodies and governments largely remain passive. HRW specifically urged the AU PSC to undertake sustained scrutiny of all parties involved in the conflict, convene a dedicated session focused on civilian protection and accountability, and exert pressure on all combatants to immediately cease their abuses.

Source: Original reporting via Human Rights Watch