Mali: what really happened in Moura?
A Malian army convoy.
(Illustrative Image) AP - Jerome Delay
Text by: David Baché
3 mins
In Mali, there are still a lot of questions after the operation carried out last week in Moura, in the center of the country.
In a press release published on Friday April 1, 2022, the Malian army indicated that it had "
neutralized
" more than 200 jihadists during this "
major operation
" carried out between March 23 and 31, against a "
terrorist stronghold
".
But many local testimonies, collected by RFI and several human rights organizations, report multiple abuses.
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At this stage, "
we are no longer talking about abuses,
it's a massacre
", bluntly affirms a source, who judges the Malian military operation disproportionate and indiscriminate.
The army says it killed 203 jihadists and arrested 51. No losses to report on the Fama side, which is obviously good news but also a source of questioning: there was no fighting, the army says it had carried out aerial actions.
“
A market day
specify many sources, which also ensure that among the victims all were not jihadists, but that there were also simple villagers.
These sources refer to summary executions, looting, burning houses and raping women.
The village was surrounded and subjected to a blockade for six days.
In its statement, the army claims to have carried out this operation "
following very precise information
" on "
a meeting between different katibas
", and to have carried out a "
systematic cleaning of the area
".
Moura has been subjected for several years to the yoke of the jihadists of the Katiba Macina of the GSIM, the Support Group for Islam and Muslims, where they regularly come to preach and refuel.
"
Without weapons, even identified jihadists must be considered as prisoners of war and not as people to be liquidated
", unanimously point out humanitarian and judicial sources.
Another question: the role played by the Russian auxiliaries - mercenaries of the Wagner group, according to all of Mali's western partners, or "instructors" of the Russian army according to Bamako - of the Fama: the Malian army press release does not mention them no time, but many testimonies attest that they were deployed in very large numbers, some even affirm that they were more numerous than the Malian soldiers.
Heavy toll
Finally, the assessment of this operation raises questions:
203 dead according to the army
, but again many sources evoke a much higher assessment.
Their precise number may be difficult to establish.
Residents have explained that they had to bury their dead themselves in a chain, they speak of mass graves and charred bodies.
The United Nations Mission in Mali wants to conduct an investigation to try to establish the facts and answer all these questions.
“
Everything is planned, we are only waiting for the agreement of the authorities
”, we explain to the Minusma.
In its press release, the Malian army calls
for "restraint against defamatory speculation against the Fama
" and assures "
opening investigations each time allegations
" are made against the national forces.
But human rights defenders want an independent investigation.
Just like the United States, which called on the transitional government this Sunday to grant Moura access to Minusma.
“
Failure to provide a thorough and credible account of facts and responsibilities
, warns the US State Department,
will only serve to sow divisions in Malian society, undermine the credibility, legitimacy and reputation of the Fama
.
" Same plea on the side of the European Union, which considers "
essential
" that the Minusma "
can have access to the places of the events
" and "
that the conclusions of these investigations are made public so that those responsible are brought to justice
.
“
The fight against terrorism
, concludes the head of European diplomacy Josep Borrell,
can in no way justify massive violations of human rights
.
»
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