Malian soldiers associated with foreign fighters presumed to be Russian summarily executed 300 civilians, some of whom they suspected of being jihadists, at the end of March in a locality in the center of the country, denounces Human Rights Watch (HRW).
In a report published on Tuesday, the NGO describes a massacre perpetrated over several days between March 27 and 31 in the locality of Moura, between Mopti and Djenné, in a region which is one of the main centers of Sahelian violence.
Faced with the proliferation of testimonies reported by the press, the Malian general staff spoke Tuesday evening in a press release of "unfounded allegations" aimed at "tarnishing the image" of the armed forces.
Without specifically referring to HRW, he repeated that respect for rights was "a priority in the conduct (of) operations" and called for "restraint against defamatory speculation".
"The worst episode of atrocities" in Mali since 2012
The military-dominated authorities who took power by force in 2020 had already given their version of events on Friday, speaking of an operation that had killed 203 members of “armed terrorist groups” and arrested 51 others. .
But the UN Mission in Mali, the United States, the European Union and France have expressed concern over reports from Moura.
The events in Moura are "the worst episode of atrocities" committed since the unleashing of violence in Mali in 2012, says HRW, which cites 27 people informed of the events, including 19 survivors and witnesses.
"The Malian government must urgently and impartially open an investigation into these mass killings, including the role of foreign soldiers," said Corinne Dufka, Sahel director at HRW.
For the credibility of these investigations, the authorities must be assisted by the African Union and the United Nations, she believes.
Some soldiers would be Russian
The Moura events began on March 27 with the arrival of soldiers in helicopters in the middle of the cattle market, says HRW.
The soldiers then allegedly exchanged fire with about thirty armed Islamists who were in the crowd;
several Islamists, a few civilians and two foreign soldiers were reportedly killed.
With reinforcements transported by helicopters, Malian and foreign soldiers took control of Moura, relate the witnesses quoted by HRW.
White-skinned foreigners are assimilated to Russians because they do not speak French and there has been much talk in the media, including from the authorities, of the arrival of Russian soldiers in recent months to help fight the jihadists.
The soldiers reportedly combed the town, "executing" a number of people and capturing hundreds of others.
In the following days, they allegedly shot and executed dozens of captives in small groups, perhaps based on their dress or because they wore beards according to rules laid down by the jihadists, or because of their ethnicity. .
"Deliberately killing or ill-treating an individual in custody is a war crime," says HRW.
Civilians were forced to dig mass graves before being executed, according to HRW.
Some remains were burned to the point of being unrecognizable, adds the NGO.
“Sorting” and identification of “terrorists”
In the press release published Tuesday evening, the staff indicates that the army attacked a group of "terrorists" to whom they opposed violent fighting.
Once control of Moura was assured, the soldiers carried out a "triage" and identified the "terrorists" hidden in the population, he said.
The staff is content to mention deaths in the ranks of the army without further details.
It makes no mention of foreign soldiers.
But he reports that the operation engaged four special forces groups and three Mi-17 (Soviet-designed) transport helicopters and two Mi-35 (Russian-made) combat helicopters, as well as surveillance drones.
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