At least 20 civilians, including women and children, were killed in northern Mali when their vehicles came under attack on Monday. Local sources attribute the assault to Malian army forces and Russian Wagner mercenaries.
According to eyewitness accounts, the incident occurred when two vehicles carrying migrants and nomads encountered Malian soldiers and Wagner fighters in the Tilemsi region while en route to Algeria. The attackers allegedly opened fire on the vehicles without provocation.
"In the first car, everyone died, including my cousin," said a relative of one of the drivers who spoke on condition of anonymity.
The Front for the Liberation of Azawad (FLA), a separatist rebel group, denounced the attack as "ethnic cleansing" against the Azawad population by Mali's ruling military junta. The FLA claims at least 24 people were "coldly executed" during the incident.
While the Malian army has not officially responded to the allegations, a military source denied involvement and indicated an investigation was underway. A local representative from the Gao region confirmed the attack and the civilian death toll.
This latest incident adds to growing concerns about human rights violations in Mali. The country's military government has increasingly relied on Wagner mercenaries since cutting ties with France following coups in 2020 and 2021. In December, Human Rights Watch documented atrocities against civilians committed by both the Malian army and Wagner group.
The security situation in Mali continues to deteriorate amid a decade-long crisis, with militant groups linked to Al-Qaeda and Islamic State active in the region.