Since January 2025, Mali’s army and Russia-backed Wagner Group forces have carried out widespread abuses against ethnic Fulani civilians, accusing them of ties to Islamist insurgents.

Human Rights Watch reports dozens of summary executions and over 80 enforced disappearances across several regions, including Kayes, Ségou, and Timbuktu.

In one April incident, 65 Fulani men were detained in Sebabougou; their bodies were later found near a military base.

Witnesses across multiple villages described torture, blindfolded detainees, and killings carried out with impunity.

These abuses come as Mali withdraws from regional bodies like ECOWAS and replaces UN peacekeepers with Russian paramilitaries.

Despite official denials, Wagner’s presence and involvement have been documented. The African Union has been urged to step in, as civilians face atrocities from both state forces and Islamist fighters.

Under international law, such acts may amount to war crimes. Without accountability, the cycle of violence risks deepening, with the Fulani community caught in the crossfire.

Source: HRW