Mali’s Military and Russian Wagner Mercenaries Accused of Civilian Killings in Kidal Region

Malian civil society groups and residents are accusing the country’s army and Russian mercenaries of killing dozens of civilians during a recent military operation in the northern Kidal region.

The killings, which reportedly took place between June 20th and 29th, come amidst a surge in violence following the Malian junta’s decision to break a peace agreement with rebel groups.

According to witnesses, the victims were targeted in the Abeibara area, a former stronghold of a Tuareg ethnic group rebellion.

Hamadine Driss Ag Mohamed, son of the village chief, claims 46 civilians were killed by Malian soldiers and fighters affiliated with the Wagner Group, a Russian mercenary company.

“The Malian and Wagner soldiers executed old men and shepherds and stole everything they found in the camps such as money and valuable jewelry,” he said.

This accusation comes as Mali, along with neighboring Burkina Faso and Niger, increasingly rely on Russian military assistance in their fight against insurgencies. The Malian military, however, denies any knowledge of the civilian deaths, stating they are unaware of the specific allegations but acknowledge ongoing military operations throughout the country.

Meanwhile, a Malian human rights group, Kal akal, puts the death toll even higher, claiming at least 60 civilians were killed and buried in mass graves. They further accuse the Wagner Group of carrying out “a vast campaign of ethnic cleansing.”

The recent violence underscores the deteriorating security situation in northern Mali. A 2015 peace deal with Tuareg rebels had brought a period of relative stability, but the junta’s actions in 2020 and 2023 have reignited the conflict, with civilians facing increased violence.

On June 6, it was reported that an investigative journalist exposing human rights abuses, perpetrated by mercenaries from the “Wagner Group” was assaulted in the Central African Republic.