Severe atrocities against the civilian population have been documented in Mali following a sharp escalation in violence. A detailed investigation highlights how the Groupe de soutien à l’islam et aux musulmans (JNIM), the Front de libération de l’Azawad (FLA), the national Malian army, and the Russian Africa Corps have all been implicated in serious misconduct since the coordinated offensives launched in late April.
The findings indicate that every faction involved in the conflict has targeted non-combatants, with reports of widespread looting and the destruction of private property. In the regions of Gao and Kidal, the fallout from clashes between the junta’s forces and the JNIM-FLA alliance has resulted in at least 13 civilian deaths and 25 injuries.
A survivor from Kidal, aged 38, described the chaos of the battlefield. “Bullets struck my right shoulder and left thigh,” he recounted, noting that the intensity of the crossfire made it impossible to determine which side was responsible for his injuries.
Documented executions and aerial bombardments
The JNIM has been specifically linked to the destruction of over 40 civilian vehicles on the primary roads leading to Bamako during May. Furthermore, a public execution was carried out in Tonka. Local residents described recovering the victim’s body, which bore a single gunshot wound to the head.
Simultaneously, the Malian military faces allegations of killing 38 civilians, including 23 children, during operations targeting Peul communities in the central region of the country. Suspected drone strikes in the localities of Guimbé and Tené have also caused significant devastation. One witness in Tené described hearing an aerial noise followed by a massive explosion that left the area in ruins, with numerous casualties scattered among the debris.
The evidence presented was gathered through 34 remote testimonies, as well as the rigorous analysis of satellite data, video footage, and photographs. While the Malian authorities have remained silent on these allegations, the JNIM responded by stating that human costs are an inevitable part of warfare. Meanwhile, the FLA claimed to have implemented measures to minimize collateral damage during their military operations.