Mali: numerous extrajudicial executions by the Malian and Nigerien armies

Malian security forces committed 101 extrajudicial executions between January 1 and March 31, the UN Mission in Mali, Minusma, said Thursday, which also accuses the Nigerien army of around thirty extrajudicial executions on Malian territory during the same period. The human rights division of Minusma, in a quarterly note, notes a "multiplication of extrajudicial executions (101 victims) " which are "attributable" to the Malian army.

In addition, "32 cases of enforced disappearance" , "32 cases of torture or cruel inhuman or degrading treatment" , as well as "115 arbitrary arrests" , all "attributable" to the Malian security forces, have been identified by the UN. “These figures have been documented. The names and the circumstances have been documented, " Guillaume Ngefa, director of the human rights division of Minusma, told the press. These cases "are under investigation by the Malian authorities ," he added.

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MINUSMA notes that "the majority" of these human rights violations were committed by the army in the center of the country, the epicenter of violence in the Malian conflict. This region, since the appearance in 2015 of a jihadist group affiliated to Al-Qaeda, has experienced a proliferation of jihadist violence, of militias, intercommunity or linked to brigandage, often intertwined.

The spokesman for the Malian Ministry of Defense was not immediately available to comment on these statements.

In the same central regions, the UN notes a "multiplication of armed attacks between members of the Fulani and Dogon communities" , indicating that 35 attacks were documented in three months, which left 180 dead. Jihadist groups operating in Mali have been guilty, in addition to attacks on military camps that have left dozens dead, 39 murders, 46 kidnappings and 18 cases of torture between January 1 and March 31, according to the UN. These groups "are increasingly responsible" for human rights violations, according to Guillaume Ngefa.

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"The question is when will the trials take place?" , wonders Guillaume Ngefa, estimating that "the Covid crisis should not distract us, while human rights violations continue, especially (in the) center" of Mali. During the same period, the UN also documented 34 extrajudicial executions committed by the Nigerien army on Malian territory: in Inekar (24 victims), in Anderamboukane (5 victims), and 5 other victims "in a locality located between Anderamboukane and Chinagodar " . These places are all located in the northeast of Mali, close to the Niger border.

In a recent press release, the Nigerien authorities reacted to the same accusations: “the elements of the FDS (Defense and Security Forces) have always shown professionalism in the exercise of their missions while respecting human rights. The troops deployed in all areas of operations are well trained and sensitized on issues of international humanitarian law . ” "Given the gravity of the allegations tending to discredit the actions of our SDFs in their fight against armed terrorist groups and other criminal groups, investigations will be carried out in order to clear our forces of all suspicion," assured the Defense Ministry.