Massacre of civilians in central Mali by army and allied militias
The Malian Armed Forces (FAMA) and allied militias have been implicated in the deliberate killing of at least 31 civilians and the destruction of homes during coordinated raids on two villages in the conflict-ridden Ségou region in early October.
On October 2, soldiers accompanied by dozos—traditional hunters primarily from the Bambara ethnic group who have participated in counterinsurgency operations for a decade—entered the village of Kamona, where they summarily executed at least 21 men and set fire to at least 10 homes. Witnesses reported that the killings occurred after soldiers accused the villagers of collaborating with the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (GSIM), an Al-Qaeda-affiliated jihadist faction that controls much of central Mali. Residents stated that GSIM fighters had alerted them to the army’s approach, prompting many to flee; those who remained were rounded up and shot.
«The October massacres in Ségou are just the latest atrocities linked to the Malian military and its allied militias,» said a senior Sahel researcher. «Authorities must conduct credible, impartial investigations and hold those responsible accountable through fair trials.»
Following the October 2 assault, villagers discovered 17 bodies beneath a tree in Kamona and four more bodies north of the village. The victims included men aged 20 to 65, all shot at close range. A local shepherd recounted finding the bodies after soldiers left, noting that some victims had suffered severe head trauma. Survivors provided a list of 21 identified victims, though they believe additional men were killed in surrounding areas. «We heard at least 15 others were shot in the bush that day,» one resident explained, «but we didn’t check—we were too afraid the army would return.»
On October 13, a similar operation unfolded in the nearby village of Balle. Soldiers in five pickup trucks and dozos on at least 30 motorcycles descended on the settlement, forcing some residents to flee. Witnesses described soldiers conducting door-to-door searches, assaulting civilians, and executing 10 people—including a 55-year-old woman—before stealing over 100 cattle. The victims, aged 22 to 67, were found lying side by side, some with broken limbs. A 21-year-old woman recounted how her mother, after confronting the soldiers, was dragged away and shot alongside the men.
The Malian military has claimed its October 13 operation in Balle was an «offensive reconnaissance» that «neutralized around twenty terrorists» and seized military equipment. However, residents disputed this, stating that Balle had been under GSIM control for years. «We pay zakat to them every year,» one villager said. «Disputes are settled by the jihadists—there are no soldiers, gendarmes, or police here. The army doesn’t distinguish between them and us.»
These attacks occurred as GSIM intensified its offensive on Bamako, cutting off fuel supplies to the capital and forcing the military junta to suspend all schools and universities in early September. The escalation has deepened Mali’s humanitarian crisis, displacing over 402,000 people since 2012 and fueling cycles of retaliation between state forces, allied militias, and armed groups.
International humanitarian law prohibits attacks on civilians, extrajudicial killings, and cruel treatment of detainees. Those responsible for war crimes—whether acting under criminal intent or command responsibility—may face prosecution. Though Mali withdrew from the International Criminal Court (ICC) in September, it remains bound by the Rome Statute until September 2026, and the ICC has investigated alleged war crimes in Mali since 2013.
The African Union’s Peace and Security Council has faced criticism for its limited response to the crisis. Analysts urge the council to prioritize Mali, enhance diplomatic efforts, and coordinate regional action to ensure accountability for abuses by all parties involved.
