GENEVA (30 April 2025) – UN experts today expressed
outrage at the alleged summary execution of several dozen
people in Mali, as well as the enforced disappearance of
others. They warned that these unlawful killings may amount
to war crimes, and that the enforced disappearances may
constitute crimes against humanity if they are part of
widespread or systematic attacks against
civilians.
“We urge Malian authorities to conduct
prompt, effective, thorough, independent, impartial and
transparent investigations into these killings and enforced
disappearances, in accordance with international law,” the
experts said. State failure to investigate constitutes in
itself a violation of the right to life.
“Those
responsible for unlawful killings and enforced
disappearances, whether by direct involvement or complicity,
must be prosecuted, and measures must be taken to prevent
their recurrence and provide reparation to the
victims.”
On 12 April 2025, around 100 men, most of
whom were from the Peul community, were arrested by the
Malian Armed Forces (FAMa). They were accompanied by
military and security personnel recruited by the
Russia-based Wagner Group. The arrests took place at a
market in Sebabougou, in the Diéma cercle of the Kayes
region. While some of those arrested were released
immediately, approximately 60 others were reportedly taken
to the Kwala military camp in the Koulikoro region.
According to unconfirmed reports, those arrested were
tortured and interrogated about alleged links with
“terrorists” at the Kwala military camp. The victims
were reportedly whipped during interrogation. Afterwards,
military and security personnel recruited by the Wagner
Group reportedly took the victims out of the camp and
executed them by opening fire. Between 21 and 22 April 2025,
several dozen decomposing bodies, suspected to be those
arrested in Sebabougou on 12 April 2025, were found
scattered on the outskirts of the Kwala military camp by
people searching for their relatives.
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While the exact
death toll is unclear, it is reportedly believed that at
least 65 people disappeared or went missing after being
arrested in Sebabougou. The experts received a list from
credible sources purporting to show the names of 54 alleged
male victims. The fate and whereabouts of the victims remain
unknown.
In a statement dated 28 April 2025, the
Malian Armed Forces confirmed that they had conducted
military operations between 11 and 15 April 2025 in several
areas, including Sebabougou and Kwala. They added that they
had “neutralised” several combatants from “terrorist
armed groups”.
The experts expressed their
solidarity with the families affected by the killings and
enforced disappearances. “Malian authorities must ensure
that the bodies of the deceased are properly recovered,
documented and protected to facilitate reliable
identification, and prevent the victims from being
classified as missing persons. The bodies must then be
handed over respectfully to their families for mourning and
final disposal,” they said.
They stressed that this
process forms an integral part of the international legal
obligation to conduct effective investigations and ensure
accountability and effective remedies for human rights
violations.
“We are deeply troubled by the apparent
total impunity and lack of prosecution or prevention of
these violations attributed to both Malian defence and
security forces, and foreign military and security personnel
from the ‘Wagner’ Group and/or ‘Africa Corps’,”
the experts said.
“Failure to bring alleged
perpetrators of human rights violations to justice could
undermine public confidence in the armed forces and be
exploited by violent extremist groups,” they said.
“Under the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism
Strategy, Governments must address the root causes of
violence to effectively combat terrorism, such as impunity,
prolonged unresolved conflicts, weak rule of law, human
rights violations, discrimination, political exclusion,
socio-economic marginalisation, and poor
governance.”
The experts recalled the statement by
the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court on 23
March 2019. In this statement, the Prosecutor noted that the
situation in Mali had been referred to her Office by Malian
authorities in 2012, a formal investigation had been opened
in 2013, and her Office would continue to closely monitor
events in central Mali and other parts of the country. The
experts stressed that the ICC could determine whether the
Malian State lacks the capacity or will to conduct effective
investigations and could expand its current investigation
beyond crimes committed in northern Mali in 2012 and 2013,
or open a new investigation into crimes under international
law committed elsewhere in Mali.
“Under
international law, military commanders and other superiors,
including Government officials, can be held criminally
responsible for crimes committed by armed forces under their
effective command and control,” they said.
The
experts also recalled recommendations
concerning counter-terrorism measures in Mali, including
calls on the Government to ensure that military operations
are proportionate and non-discriminatory, and comply with
international human rights law and international
humanitarian law.
The experts are
in contact with the Government of Mali, and have reiterated
their offer to provide technical assistance on forensic
matters.
*The expert: Eduardo Gonzalez, Independent
Expert on the situation of human rights in Mali ;
Jovana Jezdimirovic Ranito (Chair-Rapporteur), Ravindran
Daniel, Michelle Small, Joana de Deus Pereira, Andrés
Macías Tolosa, Working
Group on the use of mercenaries; Morris
Tidball-Binz, Special
Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary, or arbitrary
executions; Ben Saul, Special Rapporteur
on the promotion and protection of human rights and
fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism ;
Gabriella Citroni (Chair-Rapporteur), Grażyna Baranowska
(Vice-Chair), Aua Baldé; Ana Lorena Delgadillo Pérez; and
Mohammed Al-Obaidi, Working
Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances
.
