HRW Accuses Mali’s Military and Russian Allies of Killing Civilians, Urges AU Action

Human Rights Watch (HRW) has accused Mali’s military and its Russian-controlled Africa Corps allies of killing and injuring civilians in alleged violations of international humanitarian law, while also documenting abuses by Islamist and separatist armed groups.

In a report released on Monday, October 19, 2026, the international rights organisation called on the African Union’s Peace and Security Council to take urgent action to protect civilians and press all parties in Mali’s conflict to end abuses.

“The Malian military, armed groups, and insurgent forces are committing grave laws-of-war violations while international organizations and governments largely stand by,” said Ilaria Allegrozzi, HRW’s senior Sahel researcher.

The report is based on interviews with 30 people, including witnesses, human rights defenders, community leaders, journalists and a Malian soldier. HRW also examined photographs and videos related to reported attacks.

Civilians Killed in Drone Strikes and Military Operations

HRW documented two drone attacks it described as apparently indiscriminate, including a strike on a health facility in the Kidal region on July 29 and an attack on a cattle market in the Bandiagara region on August 19.

According to the organisation, the August attack on the market in Tombonkore killed six civilians and injured at least 20 others. Witnesses said no fighters from the armed group Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) were present at the market or in the village when the strike occurred.

The report also documented an operation in the Ségou region in which Malian soldiers allegedly shot and killed five girls. In the Mopti region, members of the military-allied Dozo militia were accused of killing three civilians.

HRW said the incidents raised serious concerns about whether forces had taken the necessary precautions to distinguish civilians from combatants.

Under international humanitarian law, parties to an armed conflict must distinguish between civilians and combatants and take precautions to avoid civilian harm. Deliberate or indiscriminate attacks against civilians can constitute serious violations of the laws of war.

HRW Reports Increase in Air Strikes and Civilian Deaths

Drawing on data from the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data project (ACLED), HRW said Malian forces and Africa Corps carried out 49 air strikes between April and August 2026, resulting in 89 civilian deaths.

That compares with 22 strikes and 44 civilian deaths recorded during the same period in 2025, according to the data cited in the report.

The figures point to a sharp increase in recorded air strikes and civilian deaths during the period covered. They do not, on their own, establish the circumstances or legality of every individual strike.

HRW has repeatedly raised concerns about operations conducted by Malian forces and Russian-linked personnel during counterinsurgency campaigns.

Armed Opposition Groups Also Accused of Abuses

The report also accuses armed opposition groups of serious violations, including the torture and execution of captured Malian soldiers.

HRW cited an attack on a military convoy near Tabrichat in the Gao region on July 18, carried out by JNIM and fighters from the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA).

According to the report, at least 19 Malian soldiers who had surrendered were tortured and executed.

JNIM acknowledged that prisoners were killed during the incident but denied ordering their deaths. The FLA acknowledged fighting Malian troops and Russian forces in the area but denied executing captured soldiers. The group suggested that some personnel in its custody or nearby were killed in subsequent drone strikes by Malian forces and their allies.

These competing accounts underline the need for independent investigations into the treatment of captured personnel and the circumstances surrounding their deaths.

Mali’s Conflict and Russia’s Military Role

Mali has faced an armed conflict since 2012 involving Islamist armed groups, separatist movements, government forces and other armed actors.

Following military coups in 2020 and 2021, the authorities led by General Assimi Goïta strengthened security cooperation with Russia. Fighters from the Wagner Group initially supported Malian military operations before Africa Corps, controlled by the Russian state, took over much of that role.

In April 2026, JNIM and FLA fighters launched coordinated attacks across Mali. Government forces and their allies subsequently intensified operations against armed groups, with HRW reporting civilian casualties and alleged reprisals against communities accused of collaborating with insurgents.

HRW Calls on African Union to Act

HRW said it sent a letter outlining its findings and questions to Mali’s defence minister on August 5 but had received no response.

The organisation is urging the African Union’s Peace and Security Council to hold a dedicated session on civilian protection and accountability in Mali. It also wants the council to press Malian authorities to conduct independent investigations into alleged abuses by government forces, their allies and opposition groups.

The organisation further called for regular public reporting on civilian protection measures and accountability efforts.

As the conflict continues, the challenge for regional and international institutions will be to protect civilians, establish the facts behind reported abuses and ensure that those responsible are held accountable, regardless of which side they belong to.

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