Mali escalation of violence and economic strangulation by armed groups
Human rights watch highlights coordinated abuses amid Mali’s deepening crisis
In the wake of Mali’s military escalation since April 25, a new investigation uncovers a disturbing pattern of civilian suffering at the hands of armed factions. Human Rights Watch has documented widespread abuses linked to government forces, allied Russian military instructors, and Islamist insurgents, revealing a dual strategy of violence and economic blockade that is pushing communities to the brink.
Kidal’s fall triggers brutal counteroffensive
The capture of Kidal on April 25 by the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM) and the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) marked the beginning of a new phase in Mali’s conflict. The loss of the Defense minister, Sadio Camara, during the offensive prompted a rapid and forceful response from Bamako. The Malian Armed Forces (FAMa), supported by Russian trainers under the Africa Corps banner, launched a sweeping counterattack. While official reports remain scarce, Human Rights Watch’s field investigations indicate that the initial clashes in Gao and Kidal alone resulted in at least 13 civilian deaths and 25 injuries.
Fueling instability: jihadists target supply routes and energy infrastructure
As the conflict intensifies, JNIM has shifted its tactics toward economic warfare, aiming to cripple the country’s fragile infrastructure. Between May 6 and 21, militants intercepted and destroyed more than 40 civilian transport vehicles heading to Bamako, cutting off vital supply lines. The deliberate targeting of fuel tankers, which has intensified since September 2025, has disrupted fuel distribution networks, leaving entire regions without electricity and forcing schools to close and markets to shut down.
The insurgents have also resorted to public executions to enforce compliance. In Tonka, near Timbuktu, a civilian was publicly killed as a warning to those resisting their authority.
Civilian toll mounts as state forces respond with indiscriminate force
The government’s countermeasures have not spared civilians either. Human Rights Watch has identified severe violations in central Mali, where Fulani communities are frequently targeted under the suspicion of supporting insurgent movements. Between May 14 and 17, at least 38 civilians, including 23 children, were killed during ground operations.
The aerial campaign has been particularly devastating. On April 25 in Guimbé, a drone strike killed 12 children and adolescents. On May 17 in Téné, a wedding ceremony was struck by a missile, leaving 10 civilians dead.
War crimes and the absence of accountability
When questioned about the targeting of civilians and the disruption of supply routes, JNIM leadership claimed that those killed had violated the group’s laws. Meanwhile, Mali’s Ministry of Justice has remained silent, failing to address inquiries or respond to formal requests for clarification from human rights investigators.
With international humanitarian law under severe strain and impunity rampant in the absence of United Nations oversight, the crisis shows no signs of abating. Human Rights Watch is calling on the African Union and the United Nations to urgently establish an independent fact-finding mission to gather evidence for future prosecutions.
