Russia’s military partnership with Mali is facing renewed scrutiny after Human Rights Watch (HRW) accused Malian forces and their Russian allies in Africa Corps of abuses against civilians during counterinsurgency operations, raising questions about the conduct and effectiveness of Moscow’s security role in the Sahel.
In a report published on October 19, HRW documented alleged violations by Malian forces and Africa Corps in central and northern Mali, alongside abuses committed by Islamist and separatist armed groups. The organization urged the African Union Peace and Security Council to increase scrutiny of all parties and press for measures to prevent further abuses.
The findings come as Mali continues to rely on Russian military support following a major insurgent offensive on April 25. Fighters from Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), an Al-Qaeda-linked group, and the Tuareg-led Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) attacked multiple locations across the country. The offensive killed Defense Minister Sadio Camara and targeted towns and cities, as well as Bamako’s main airport, exposing the security challenges facing the military-led government.
Mali’s authorities have increasingly turned to Moscow since the military coups of 2020 and 2021, as relations with Western security partners deteriorated. Russia’s state-controlled Africa Corps, which assumed much of Wagner Group’s role in the country, has become a key component of this security partnership.
Recent developments have offered the government some gains. On October 6, Malian troops re-entered the northern town of Kidal after the FLA announced a controlled withdrawal. However, the move was widely viewed as a symbolic gain rather than a decisive turning point in the wider conflict.
The latest HRW findings raise further questions about the conduct of operations carried out by Malian forces and their Russian allies. The organization documented an apparent drone strike on August 19 at a cattle market in Tombonkore village, in the central Bandiagara region, that killed six civilians and injured at least 20 others. HRW said witnesses reported that no JNIM fighters were present at the market or in the village at the time. It also documented an apparent drone strike on a health facility in Talahandak village, in the Kidal region, on July 29.
HRW said its findings were based on remote interviews with 30 people conducted between July 30 and September 20, including 16 witnesses to abuses. The organization also reviewed videos, photographs and evidence from the reported strikes. It said it sent a letter outlining its findings to Mali’s defense minister on August 5 but received no response.
The allegations have not received a public response from Mali’s military or the Russian embassy in Bamako, according to Reuters. Mali has previously denied killing civilians during counterinsurgency operations.
The report also documented abuses by insurgent groups. HRW said JNIM and FLA fighters tortured and executed at least 19 Malian soldiers captured after an attack on a military convoy in the Gao region on July 18. JNIM acknowledged that the killings occurred but denied ordering them, while the FLA denied responsibility for the executions.
The findings highlight a central challenge for Mali’s partnership with Russia: whether closer military cooperation can help restore security while ensuring respect for international humanitarian law. For the African Union and other international actors, the report reinforces the need to address alleged abuses by government forces, their allies and insurgent groups alike.
