Mali: military operations are increasing, allegations of abuse too

A Malian soldier between Mopti and Djenne in February 2020 (illustration image).

© MICHELE CATTANI/AFP

Text by: David Baché

2 mins

The Malian army is more active than ever against jihadist groups.

In a press release published on Tuesday, March 29, 2022, it indicates that it has " 

 ".

Operations for some still in progress.

At the same time, many security and civilian sources report new abuses by the Malian army and its Russian auxiliaries.

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The Malian army says it has carried out " 

 ", " 

 " since last Saturday in Moura, in the circle of Djenné, in the Mopti region.

An area where the jihadists of the Support Group for Islam and Muslims, the GSIM, are notoriously active.

The army does not give more details on the action in progress and promises a detailed assessment later.

But many security and civilian sources, Malian and international, deplore that the strikes took place on a market day.

They also denounce summary executions committed by Malian soldiers and their Russian auxiliaries.

The balance sheets are difficult to cross-check, but there is talk of several dozen dead and missing as well as mass arrests.

The sources also evoke burnt pastures.

These sources, military and humanitarian in particular, local and international, concordantly evoke several other cases of summary executions.

In particular those of 12 to 15 Fulani civilians in the circle of Koro, in the Mopti region, last week, between March 20 and 24, again by Malian soldiers and the Russian fighters who accompany them.

Previous accusation in Ansongo

In its press release, the Malian army does not refer to it, but it mentions other actions in the circles of Diema, region of Kayes in the west of the country, but also Diré, Tonka and Goundam, region of Timbuktu. , in the North, or in Niono and Tominian, region of Ségou, in the center.

With a cumulative balance sheet of 21 neutralized terrorists, around twenty arrests and significant material seizures.

In recent days, other allegations of abuse have been brought against the Malian army, accused of having executed, last Saturday,

, displaced persons fleeing the mass murders - several hundred dead - committed for three weeks by the Islamic State group in the Ménaka region.

The army indicates that it has ordered investigations and set up operations to protect the populations in the regions of Ménaka and Gao.

More generally, the Malian army claims to take " 

 " which would be " 

 " and which will give rise to investigations " 

 ".

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