On Saturday, January 5th, nine civilians, including women and children, were killed in a car attack in Mali in Western Africa; Malian army soldiers and Russian militants are behind the casualties, according to Reuters. 

The conflict in Mali is deeply connected to regional instability following the 2012 Tuareg rebellion. During the Tuareg rebellion, marginalized people of the region expressed dissatisfaction with the underdevelopment of their country and fought for greater autonomy. The conflict led to widespread violence in the region and further persecution of civilians by military groups and the country’s army. During this time, the Malian army targeted people based on ethnic tensions with groups like the Tuareg who led the rebellion. Currently, Mali’s army receives massive military support from Russia’s Wagner Group, considered a transnational criminal organization by the U.S. Department of State. In 2024, the U.N. decided to withdraw all peacekeepers from the region, and civilians have become increasingly vulnerable to armed attacks, murders, and the destruction of villages. Actions by the Wagner Group have allowed Islamist terrorist groups to take control of over half of Mali in less than a year. Last year, Vladimir Putin, President of Russia, confirmed that the Kremlin had provided 940 million dollars to the Wagner Group, which has allowed the organization to exploit Africa’s natural resources and destabilize parts of the country. Since the departure of U.N. Peacekeepers, witnesses have reported persistent violence in the region. 

Mohamed Elmaouloud Ramadane, a spokesperson for Tuareg groups in the region, stated that the car was traveling to a refugee camp in Mauritania when the civilians were killed. Ramadane stated that armed forces and militants from Russia’s Wagner Group are responsible for the deaths. According to Human Rights Watch, Mali’s militia, Wagner forces, and armed Islamist groups have committed serious human rights violations in the region which violate the laws of war. Furthermore, Human Rights Watch states that “Since May 2024, Malian armed forces and the Wagner Group have deliberately killed at least 32 civilians, forcibly disappeared four others, and burned 100 homes in towns and villages and have executed at least 47 civilians.” Ilaria Allegrozzi, a senior researcher at Human Rights Watch, stated, “It has been extremely difficult to get comprehensive information on abuses, and we are deeply concerned that the situation is even worse than reported.” Allegrozzi further implied that “Malian authorities’ failure to hold members of the security forces, the Wagner Group, and other armed groups to account for grave abuses has eased the way for further atrocities.” Allegrozzi stated, “The government should work closely with the U.N. Independent Expert to investigate and prosecute all those responsible for grave abuses.” 

While both the Mali army, Islamist groups, and the Wagner Group have been condemned publicly, there must be proper accountability for their actions. The failure to condemn such violence will only lead to an increase in the number of casualties. Human Rights Watch proposed, “The Malian government should work with the National Human Rights Commission and the U.N. independent expert to establish a means of monitoring and reporting on armed groups and security forces’.” If the Malian government takes the proper steps to create a means of reporting, monitoring, and establishing accountability for human rights violations, there will be a higher emphasis on civilian protection. The abuses of military power in Mali violate the laws of war. Derived from the Geneva Convention, the laws of war indicate that parties must clearly distinguish between combatants and civilians and that harm to civilians must not be excessive. Methods of warfare that cause inhumane suffering are also prohibited. In response to these violations, the U.N. or African Union must lead an expert investigation in the region to examine the war crimes. International bodies must also impose sanctions on individuals linked to crimes in the region, and individuals found guilty should be brought before the I.C.C. (International Criminal Court). This would ensure that individuals responsible for wartime violations are held accountable for their actions. Loss of human life should not be a side effect of war and must be taken seriously.

The deaths of the nine civilians, as well as the overwhelming human rights abuses that are occurring in Mali, are a cause for significant concern. Groups such as the Wagner Group, Islamist militants, and Mali’s armed forces must be found responsible for human suffering. Ensuring that the perpetrators are brought to justice will not only save the lives of thousands of innocent people but also serve as a reminder that there is still humanity and justice left in the world.