Mali: Moura surrounded by the Malian army and its Russian auxiliaries

Malian army soldier (illustrative image).

REUTERS/Benoit Tessier

Text by: David Baché

2 mins

Since March 26, the village of Moura, circle of Djenné, in the Mopti region, has been the target of a large-scale Malian military operation, in an area where the Support Group for Islam and Muslims (Jnim ), linked to AQIM, is notoriously active.

If the populations demand a military response to restore security, this intervention seems to be turning into a nightmare for the inhabitants, whose village has been besieged by the army and by the Russian fighters who support them.

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The distress of the head of a Malian NGO, who is striving, like many humanitarian workers, community representatives or human rights defenders, to avoid the worst in Moura, if there is still time .

The Malian army indicated on Tuesday evening in a press release that airborne operations had been carried out since March 26 in this village, considered to be "

 ".

No additional details, no assessment, even provisional and, since then, no more official information.  

But the testimonies collected by RFI from civilian and security sources, local and international, are numerous to report indiscriminate violence against the inhabitants.

According to these sources, the village was surrounded by Malian soldiers and their Russian auxiliaries, deployed in large numbers.

Several sources even claim that the Russian troops deployed on the ground are greater than the Malian soldiers.  

►Also read: Mali: military operations are increasing, so are allegations of abuse

Several dozen people are said to have been killed or missing, in particular due to bombardments.

There is talk of a mass grave and burned bodies.

There is also talk of mass arrests.

In recent weeks, allegations of violations, including extrajudicial executions, have increased.

International humanitarian law is not something negotiable.

Ousmane Diallo, researcher on the Sahel at Amnesty International's office in West Africa

David Bache

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According to several sources, the Malian forces would have started to disengage Thursday, March 30 from the surroundings of the village.

The fight against terrorism led by the Malian army is a priority for the populations, particularly in areas which, like the circle of Djenné where the village of Moura is located, are subject to the daily presence of Jnim terrorists.

But the sources joined by RFI denounce a " 

which, rather than weakening the jihadists, could help to swell their ranks.

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