Mali: new accusations of abuses against the Fama and Wagner in Adiora and Ménaka

In Mali, new accusations of abuses target the national army (Fama) and its Russian auxiliaries of the Wagner group.

The town of Ménaka in northern Mali. Wikimedia Commons / Animali

Text by: David Baché

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The Malian Armed Forces (FAMA) carry out numerous anti-terrorist operations against the jihadists of the Jnim (Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims), linked to al-Qaeda, or the Islamic State group in the Sahel. But operations in the north, on May 26 in Adiora, Timbuktu region, and on May 29 in Menaka, in the region of the same name, are the subject of accusations of abuses against civilians.

Adiora, near Gossi, in Gourma-Rarhous, has long been controlled by AQIM-linked Jnim jihadists. The community and security sources contacted by RFI are formal on this point. But they also ensure that the operation carried out in this village last Friday, by the Malian army and its Russian auxiliaries of the Wagner group, has only caused civilian victims: 4 or 5 including a cripple burned alive in his house, according to the sources, which describe an aerial bombardment on a market day, followed by a ground intervention, with burning homes and looting.

Another operation was carried out Monday at dawn in the city of Menaka: according to local and security sources contacted by RFI, Malian soldiers accompanied by Russian auxiliaries of Wagner conducted excavations, at dawn, in search of jihadists of the Islamic State in the Sahel. The EIS controls the entire region and threatens the city of Menaka. But during this search, a notable of the city, a Daoussak Tuareg over 80 years old, was beaten by Malian soldiers, he died of his wounds.

During the search, the Fama made arrests in nearby homes.

Asked by RFI about these two operations, the Malian army did not respond.

>> Read also: Massacre of Moura: Mali announces an investigation into the work of the UN, with what objectives?

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