Killings of civilians during military joint operations
Civilians tortured to death in detention, others subjected to simulated drowning, beatings and electric shocks
Fulani, Arabs and Tuaregs targeted
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).
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 d
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