Human Rights Watch (HRW) has accused the Malian Armed Forces and their Russian paramilitary allies from the Wagner Group of carrying out dozens of summary executions and enforced disappearances targeting Fulani men since the beginning of 2025.
In a report released Tuesday, HRW stated that Malian soldiers and Wagner fighters routinely accused the Fulani ethnic group of collaborating with Islamist militant groups that seek to control parts of the country. The abuses, HRW says, were committed under the guise of counterinsurgency operations against the al-Qaeda-linked coalition Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM).
According to the rights organization, at least 12 Fulani men have been summarily executed and 81 others forcibly disappeared in counterterror operations across several regions. The incidents occurred between January and May 2025, amid intensified military campaigns in central and western Mali.
“The Malian military leadership bears ultimate responsibility for the executions and disappearances committed by its forces and Wagner operatives,” said Ilaria Allegrozzi, senior Sahel researcher at HRW. “These abuses must stop immediately, the fate of the missing must be revealed, and those responsible held to account.”
Allegrozzi warned that both Malian and Russian officials could face future prosecution, stressing that pressure from the African Union or action by the International Criminal Court (ICC) could lead to justice. “Those linked to such atrocities may face trial eventually,” she added.
The watchdog urged the African Union to intensify its involvement in Mali by supporting investigations and advocating for fair prosecutions to protect civilians from violations by all conflict parties.
Between February and May, HRW conducted interviews with 29 individuals, including 16 eyewitnesses, local leaders, activists, journalists, and representatives of international organizations. The organization also obtained corroborated evidence from the United Nations.
One of the gravest incidents detailed in the report occurred in April in the village of Sépébougou, located in Mali’s Kayes region. According to credible UN-backed sources, Malian soldiers and Wagner fighters rounded up approximately 65 Fulani traders and herders, took them to a nearby military base, and executed them.
On June 10, HRW submitted a letter to Mali’s Ministries of Justice and Defense, presenting its findings and requesting comment. However, no response was received.
The report adds to mounting international scrutiny of Mali’s use of Russian mercenaries and the deteriorating human rights situation since the military government severed ties with France and other Western allies in favor of closer cooperation with Moscow.
Human rights organizations continue to sound the alarm over abuses amid growing impunity and the sidelining of civilian oversight in Mali’s conflict-ridden regions.
