BAMAKO, MALI – A new report released by Human Rights Watch (HRW) details a horrifying massacre of villagers in central Mali. The extremist group JNIM, with ties to al-Qaeda, is accused of the January 27th attacks on Ogota and Ouémbé villages. At least 32 people, including three children, were killed.
Ethnic Violence and Displacement
Witnesses describe the killings as being ethnically motivated. Over 350 homes were burned to the ground, displacing thousands of villagers. HRW’s report also highlights another incident on January 6th, where an ethnic armed group killed 13 civilians and abducted 24 in separate villages.
“Islamist armed groups and ethnic militias are brutally attacking civilians without fear of prosecution,” stated Ilaria Allegrozzi, senior Sahel researcher at Human Rights Watch. She called upon authorities to take urgent action to stop the violence and protect civilians.
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Cycle of Retaliation
These attacks exemplify the ongoing retaliatory violence plaguing central Mali. Ethnic groups, such as the Fulani, have been unjustly targeted by Dogon and Bambara militias who perceive them as supporters of extremist groups like JNIM. Survivors pleaded for greater protection from the government.
Security Crisis in the Sahel
Mali, along with Burkina Faso and Niger, continues to face a devastating insurgency by armed groups linked to al-Qaeda and ISIS. The security situation has worsened following military coups in all three countries. The expulsion of French forces and subsequent reliance on Russian mercenary groups have further destabilized the region. In Mali, even the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission withdrew in December 2023 due to the junta’s demands.
Local residents express desperation as the lack of security escalates. “We have continuously asked for a military presence but the government says that the army does not have the manpower to ensure one,” an unnamed resident of Segue, a village in central Mali, told The Associated Press.
Malian authorities have yet to provide a statement on the HRW report.
Source: Africa News