Amnesty: Soldiers, Wagner killed 34 civilians in Mali

At least 34 civilians were killed in seven incidents across Mali between June 2023 and December 2025 during joint operations involving the Malian army and Russia's Wagner mercenary group, according to a report by Amnesty International released on Tuesday.

The human rights organization documented that the victims, who were not participating in hostilities, were mostly members of pastoralist communities. Amnesty stated these attacks occurred in Mali's Segou, Mopti, and Timbuktu regions, and were based on their ethnicity and presence in areas where jihadist groups were active.

Amnesty International described the acts as deliberate murders, with victims reportedly shot, burned alive, or having their throats cut, and stated these actions amount to war crimes. The report also detailed accounts from individuals interviewed by Amnesty who claimed they were tortured by Wagner members during patrols or detention, and described civilians being hit in drone strikes and property destruction.

A herder who sought refuge in Mauritania told Amnesty that "In their minds, all herders are terrorists, and as a result they do not hesitate to burn people and property." The Wagner mercenary group reportedly left Mali in 2025, but the Africa Corps, comprising many former Wagner fighters, continues to operate in the country.

Mali's military-led government, which came to power after coups in 2020 and 2021, has denied killing civilians in its counter-terrorism efforts and did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Russia also did not immediately respond. Amnesty International stated it shared its findings with Malian authorities on August 3 but had not received a response by the time of publication.