The Malian army is being assisted in the fight against Islamist rebels by Russian mercenaries from the Wagner forces. They have been charged with atrocities in several war zones.
In Mora, in central Mali, men arrested by the army and foreign troops were executed in late March for five days.
The case is the worst single atrocity reported in Mali during the decade-long conflict, according to Human Rights Watch.
Several sources tell the organization that the foreign soldiers who assisted the army were Russian.
“Killing a detainee is a war crime”
Eyewitnesses said the soldiers landed in helicopters near the city square on March 27th. There were about 30 Islamist fighters present, and a firefight ensued.
Soldiers executed several unarmed men trying to escape. Hundreds of others were arrested. Later, a large proportion of those arrested were executed and their bodies buried in three mass graves, eyewitnesses tell Human Rights Watch.
Among those executed were traders and civilians from Mora and the surrounding areas who took part in the market, as well as some Islamist fighters who tried to pretend to be civilians, eyewitnesses said.
The Malian Ministry of Defense has reported the case, saying the army killed 203 “terrorists” in late March and arrested 51.
“The injustices of an armed Islamist organization do not justify the deliberate slaughter of people detained by the army,” said HRW’s Sahel leader. Corinne Dufka.
Deliberate killing of a detainee is a war crime, the organization notes.
The EU, the United States, Germany and France, among others, have called for an independent inquiry into Mora’s events.
Mali and Russia agreed on troops last year
Cruelty to civilians by both Islamist forces and the military has risen sharply since the end of last year, according to Human Rights Watch.
Local residents have been telling the organization since January that a number of white men who spoke an unknown language have been involved in military operations in central Mali.
Malians interviewed by HRW believe the new troops are Russian, as the government announced in December that there were “Russian trainers” under the agreement with Russia.
According to Western data, the Russians who arrived in Mali last year are mercenaries of the infamous Wagner company.
Wagner’s financier Putin’s ally?
Russian law prohibits mercenaries, however according to western data (you switch to another service)Wagner forces were formed in 2014 to support pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine. The troops were reportedly involved in the conquest of Crimea.
In addition to Ukraine and Mali, Wagner’s troops have also been allegedly involved in conflicts in Syria, Libya, the Central African Republic and Sudan.
Professor at King’s College London Tracey German Wagner tells the BBC that Russia is offering Russia a controversial set.
– Wagner can get involved in foreign conflicts and the Kremlin can say, “It has nothing to do with us,” German says.
Cruelty in different countries
Wagner’s mercenaries are accused of atrocities in various countries where it has been involved in military operations.
In the Central African Republic, Wagner is said to have committed, inter alia, mass executions and arbitrary arrests, sexual violence, looting and torture, notes, among other things (you switch to another service) The European Parliament.
In Libya, according to the EU, Wagner has been involved in war crimes such as arbitrary executions of civilians and detainees, enslavement of people, installation of illicit anti-personnel mines and the killing and injury of civilians, including children.
In Syria, Wagner’s mercenaries have tortured, murdered and executed civilians and filmed their crimes, Parliament said.