Nine civilians, including women and children, were killed last week in an attack on a vehicle in Mali’s Segou region, according to a Tuareg rebel coalition and a civil society group. The groups have accused the Malian army and Russian mercenaries of carrying out the assault.
The incident occurred on Thursday as the vehicle traveled from Niono to a refugee camp in Mauritania, said Mohamed Elmaouloud Ramadane, spokesperson for the Tuareg coalition seeking independence in northern Mali. Both Ramadane and the local civil society group Kal Akal alleged that Malian armed forces, supported by fighters from Russia’s Wagner Group, were responsible for the attack.
However, in a separate statement, the leader of Kel Ansar, a prominent Tuareg group, called for an investigation but disputed claims that Malian troops were involved.
The Malian army has not commented on the allegations, and Wagner representatives were not immediately reachable.
Wagner Group fighters have been operating in Mali since the country’s military seized power in coups in 2020 and 2021, expelling French and U.N. forces. They have been assisting the Malian army in its campaigns against Islamist insurgents and Tuareg separatists.
In December, Human Rights Watch reported serious abuses against civilians by Malian forces, Wagner operatives, and Islamist militants, accusing all parties of violating the laws of war.
