At least eight civilians were killed in central Mali on Thursday in an attack reportedly involving the Malian army and Russia’s Wagner Group, multiple sources revealed on Sunday. The tragic incident is the latest in a series of violent episodes that have plagued the West African nation, which has been engulfed in a political, security, and economic crisis since 2012.
According to a local official who spoke to AFP under anonymity, a Hilux four-by-four vehicle carrying refugees toward a camp in Mauritania was fired upon by the Malian army and Wagner forces. “All of the vehicle’s passengers died. They were buried in a mass grave,” said a relative of one of the victims.
A humanitarian source corroborated the account, stating that the civilians were killed by gunfire while traveling between Niono and Nampala. The Azawad Liberation Front (FLA), a coalition of northern separatist groups primarily composed of the Tuareg ethnic minority, released a statement on Saturday condemning what it described as a “deliberate criminal act.” The FLA reported nine fatalities, including women and children, and accused the Malian military and Wagner mercenaries of the atrocity.
The Malian government and army have not commented on the incident, and a defense ministry official declined to respond to inquiries from AFP.
Mali has been gripped by violence for over a decade, with jihadist groups affiliated with Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State operating across the nation. The country also faces a separatist insurgency in its northern regions.
The situation has further deteriorated following back-to-back military coups in 2020 and 2021. The ruling junta has distanced itself from its traditional anti-jihadist allies, including France and other European partners, opting instead for closer military and political ties with Russia.
The growing influence of Russia’s Wagner Group, a paramilitary organization accused of human rights abuses in conflict zones worldwide, has drawn widespread criticism. The latest attack underscores the worsening security crisis and the plight of civilians caught in the crossfire of Mali’s ongoing conflicts.
As the international community calls for accountability, Mali’s political and humanitarian challenges remain daunting, with no immediate resolution in sight.
