Mali: Russian mercenary violence condemned

A human rights organisation has expressed concern over the number of civilians killed in Mali throughout 2025, as reported by RFI and agencies on February 7th.

Released on February 6th, the Collective for the Defence of the Rights of the People of Azawad (CD-DPA)’s annual report found that 553 people were killed in northern and central Mali in 2025.

CD-DPA’s primary concern is the intensification of violence against the civilian population, especially since the document reported 374 incidents where the Malian Armed Forces and Russian mercenaries, including from the Wagner Group, were involved.

The group also documented acts of torture and rape being used against civilians, and has urged for independent investigations to occur and for attacks on civilians to stop.

The presence of Russian fighters in Mali is controversial, especially since Malian refugees have accused fighters from Russia’s Africa Corps unit of committing human rights abuses, including rape and beheadings.

Reportedly, Mali’s military junta government uses Russian forces to maintain stability in the country as it faces a growing threat from jihadist groups, including from the al-Qaeda-affiliated Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), which has imposed a fuel blockade on Mali since September 2025.

Due to Mali’s landlocked status and reliance on fuel imports from neighbouring countries, the blockade has been highly effective at bringing the nation to a standstill; jihadists used the blockade to destabilise the government through civil unrest, as civilians were forced to scavenge for fuel.

Russia’s influence is not limited to Mali, as Sahel countries, including Niger and Burkina Faso, have increasingly rejected Western partnerships in favour of ties with Moscow.

Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso are founding members of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), a cooperation pact designed to counter jihadist violence in the Sahel by sharing information and military resources.

All three nations are junta-led, with Mali’s leader, General Assimi Goïta, taking power in 2021 following a coup. Mali’s junta has been criticised for anti-democratic practices, including Goïta passing legislation to extend his presidency until 2030 and suspending political parties.

In June 2025, Mali and Russia signed a nuclear power deal outlining the development of a civil nuclear power program in Mali, which is also one of Africa’s main gold producers.

This agreement was reached around two months after the UN urged Mali to investigate the alleged execution of civilians by the Malian military and Wagner Group members.

Under the guise of countering jihadist insurgencies, Malian and Russian forces have also been accused of conducting mass arrests of civilians suspected of jihadist ties.

RFI and agencies, Maghrebi.org