At least eight civilians have been reported dead in central Mali, with various sources blaming the Malian army and Russia’s Wagner group for the latest attack in the troubled West African nation.
The country, which has been grappling with a deepening political, security, and economic crisis since 2012, is besieged by multiple groups linked to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State, as well as a separatist insurgency in the volatile northern regions.
According to a local official who spoke to AFP on the condition of anonymity, “A Hilux four-by-four vehicle was heading toward a refugee camp in Mauritania when Wagner and the Malian army opened fire. At least eight civilians were killed.” A parent of one of the victims reported that all passengers in the vehicle died and were later buried in a mass grave.
A local humanitarian source corroborated the incident, stating that the eight civilians were “killed by bullets” between the localities of Niono and Nampala. As of now, there has been no immediate response from the Malian army, and a defense ministry official declined to comment on the matter when contacted by AFP.
In a statement released on Saturday, the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA), which represents several separatist groups from Mali’s northern Tuareg ethnic minority, condemned the attack and accused the Malian army and Wagner mercenaries of committing what they termed a “deliberate criminal act.” The FLA claimed that nine civilians, including women and children, were murdered on Thursday between Gouma Coura and Dioura.
Since the military seized power in consecutive coups in 2020 and 2021, Mali has shifted its military focus away from its previous alliances with France and European partners, opting instead for closer ties with Russia. This shift has exacerbated existing tensions and violence within the country, leaving civilians increasingly vulnerable.
