The UN’s peacekeeping mission MINUSMA started deploying several units to Talataye, in northern Mali, reacting to reports of several attacks on the civilian population in the area.

200 civilians are thought to have been killed in Talataye alone between March 21 and 25 alone.

During a cycle of reprisal attacks between ethnic Tuareg militia groups, including the Movement for the Salvation of Azawad (MSA), and the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS), according to MSA and local sources.

The Malian army conducted airstrikes in the region.

Reports on social media accuse the Malian army of reprisal attacks against civilians.

Some reports suggest that some 500 civilians have been killed in the last three weeks of March in the regions of Gao and Menaka.

The Malian army claims to have killed 203 fighters in Moura, central Mali over the course of a military operation during March 23 and 31.

Human Rights Watch is contesting the government’s narrative, accusing the Malian armed forces and foreign soldiers of summarily executing an estimated 300 men, mostly civilians, in Moura, calling it the worst single atrocity reported in Mali’s decade-long armed conflict.

The UN, U.S, France and Germany have expressed their concern over the alleged killings of civilians by the Malian army and Russian mercenaries and are calling for an independent international investigation.

On April 6, Malian authorities announced that the military had opened an investigation into the incident.
The Malian government has denied access to the scene to a MINUSMA mission wishing to investigate, as of Thursday.

Aljazeera/Agencies.