Human Rights Watch called for urgent African Union scrutiny of Mali’s conflict after documenting civilian deaths during counterinsurgency operations and the torture and execution of captured Malian soldiers. Its investigation drew on 30 remote interviews, alongside verified videos and photographs. (hrw.org)
Civilian attacks and prisoner killings
The organisation documented an apparent military drone strike damaging a health facility in Talahandak on July 29, and an August 19 market strike in Tombonkore that killed six civilians and injured at least 20. It also reported that Malian soldiers killed five girls on July 12 and allied Dozo militiamen killed three civilians on July 27–28. (hrw.org)
Separately, HRW documented the torture and execution of at least 19 Malian soldiers captured after a July 18 convoy attack involving JNIM and the Azawad Liberation Front. It could not conclusively identify which group the filmed perpetrators belonged to. Mali’s defence minister had not answered HRW’s August 5 letter seeking a response. These are investigative findings and allegations, not judicial determinations. (hrw.org)