The Malian military and allied militias have been accused of carrying out coordinated attacks that resulted in the deaths of at least 31 civilians in the central region of Segou. The incidents, which occurred on October 2 and 13, involved the alleged execution of unarmed villagers and the burning of homes, according to local testimonies.
On October 2, soldiers and members of the dozos—traditional hunters mostly from the Bambara ethnic group who have participated in counterinsurgency operations for over a decade—entered the village of Kamona. Witnesses reported that armed forces, operating in at least seven pickup trucks, three armored vehicles, and accompanied by dozos on motorcycles, conducted a house-to-house search. Survivors described how soldiers and militiamen summarily executed men they accused of collaborating with the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM), an Al-Qaeda-affiliated armed group controlling parts of central Mali.
« The October massacres in Segou are among the latest atrocities attributed to the Malian army and its allied militias, » said a senior researcher investigating the situation in the Sahel. « Authorities must conduct credible, impartial investigations and hold those responsible accountable through fair trials. »
Witness accounts, gathered through phone interviews with community leaders, activists, and journalists, indicate that at least 21 men were killed in Kamona, and their homes were set ablaze. Survivors reported finding 17 bodies under a tree in the village, with four additional victims discovered north of Kamona. Most victims were men aged 20 to 65, with some showing signs of severe trauma, including bullet wounds to the head and torso. Locals also claimed that soldiers stole livestock and burned down homes belonging to Fulani ethnic group members.
« Those who couldn’t escape were rounded up and executed, » recounted a survivor who hid in an abandoned house with his nine-year-old daughter. « When we returned, we found 17 bodies. Some had their heads completely shattered. Spent bullet casings littered the ground. »
On October 13, a similar operation unfolded in the village of Balle, approximately 55 kilometers from Kamona. Military forces, accompanied by dozos on at least 30 motorcycles, entered the village around 1 p.m., prompting some residents to flee. Survivors described soldiers and militiamen breaking into homes, assaulting men, and killing 10 civilians, including a 55-year-old woman. The attackers also stole more than 100 cattle.
« I didn’t flee immediately, but when I saw soldiers going door-to-door and beating men, I ran, » said a 24-year-old villager who witnessed the attack from a hiding place. « From my hiding spot, I heard gunshots. »
After the assault, a 33-year-old man found the 10 bodies scattered in the village center. « They were lying side by side, riddled with bullets, » he stated. « Some had broken legs and arms. » The daughter of the female victim, aged 21, recounted how her mother confronted the soldiers, accusing them of mistreating villagers before being shot dead.
Military officials have claimed the October 13 operation in Balle was an « offensive reconnaissance » that resulted in the « neutralization of around twenty terrorists » and the seizure of military equipment. However, residents disputed these assertions, stating that Balle had been under JNIM control for years. « We pay zakat to them every year, » one villager explained. « If disputes arise, the jihadists settle them. There are no soldiers, gendarmes, or police here. The army doesn’t distinguish between us and them. They assume we’re all JNIM fighters. »
These incidents follow a surge in attacks by the JNIM in the Segou region, including a strike on the Siribala sugar factory in August. The escalation has contributed to a broader crisis in Mali, where successive governments have battled Islamist armed groups since 2012. The conflict has claimed thousands of civilian lives and displaced over 400,000 people. Both state forces and their allied militias, as well as armed Islamist groups, have been documented committing grave abuses.
International humanitarian law prohibits attacks on civilians and the killing, torture, or cruel treatment of detainees. Individuals responsible for war crimes, including military commanders who fail to prevent or punish such acts, may face prosecution. Although Mali withdrew from the International Criminal Court (ICC) in September, it remains a party to the Rome Statute until September 2026. The ICC opened an investigation into alleged war crimes in Mali in 2013.
The African Union (AU) has faced criticism for its limited response to the deteriorating security situation in Mali. Despite its mandate to promote peace and security, the AU’s Peace and Security Council has primarily issued statements expressing concern without taking substantial action. Analysts emphasize the need for urgent regional and international coordination to address accountability for abuses by all parties involved.