Malian troops have been implicated in the alleged summary execution of at least 22 civilians in the country’s conflict-ridden central zone, according to a statement released Tuesday by Human Rights Watch (HRW).
The victims, all men, were reportedly taken from a market in Diafarabé, a village in the Mopti region, and later found buried in two mass graves, witnesses told The Associated Press. The area is predominantly inhabited by ethnic Fulani and is frequently targeted by JNIM, a militant group linked to Al Qaida that has waged ongoing attacks against Malian forces.
According to HRW, this latest atrocity marks a troubling pattern of extrajudicial killings carried out by Mali’s military junta. Similar accusations emerged late last year, when both Malian forces and Russian Wagner Group mercenaries were accused of massacring dozens of civilians and torching over 100 homes during joint operations.
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In its newly released report, HRW called for a transparent and independent investigation into the Diafarabé killings, expressing deep concern over the credibility of the military-led inquiry. “Raises grave concerns that the inquiry will not be independent or impartial,” the organization warned.
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Eyewitness accounts collected by the AP this week offer chilling details. Several local families and community leaders described how the army detained over 20 men at the village market. One of the detainees reportedly escaped and later informed the community that the others had been executed.
“The villagers of Diafarabé went to the location … and they discovered two mass graves,” said Diowro Diallo, head of the Fulani association Dental Wuwardé.
Decomposing bodies were found at the sites, according to villagers. A relative of one of the victims, 44-year-old Abba Dicko, spoke on the condition of anonymity, citing fears for personal safety.
“The bodies were in such a state of decomposition that we could not identify them or count them accurately, but we believe the account of the person who escaped the massacre and raised the alarm,” the relative said.
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Another resident, who identified himself only as Cissé to avoid retaliation, confirmed that his son and cousin were among those seized by soldiers at the market.
“I saw the soldiers come to the market to kidnap my relatives. The arrested individuals are well-known in the village. I never imagined they would be killed in this way,” he said.
The killings have left Diafarabé gripped by fear. One villager, who claimed to have lost four relatives in the incident, urged officials to withdraw military forces from the area.
“We are asking the authorities to remove the soldiers to avoid further incidents,” the resident said.
Despite claims of launching an investigation last week, the Malian military has not released any findings or updates. Human rights observers remain skeptical about the outcome.
HRW’s senior Sahel researcher, Ilaria Allegrozzi, criticized the military’s consistent failure to bring perpetrators to justice, particularly in cases involving security forces and foreign mercenaries.
“The military authorities have not made any progress in ensuring justice for the victims of serious rights abuses in the course of the country’s deadly conflict,” Allegrozzi said. The lack of accountability for past atrocities, she added, “has eased the way for further atrocities.”
