The Malian Armed Forces, alongside allied militias, stand accused of executing at least 31 civilians and torching homes in two villages within the conflict-stricken region of Ségou during early October, according to detailed accounts from local witnesses and community leaders.
October attacks leave 21 dead in Kamona
On October 2nd, joint operations involving Malian troops and dozos—traditional hunter militias predominantly from the Bambara ethnic group—swept through Kamona, a village situated in an area under the influence of the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM). Witnesses reported that soldiers, operating from seven pick-up trucks and three armored vehicles, alongside dozos on motorcycles, targeted and executed at least 21 men. The attackers also set ablaze ten homes and three storage huts belonging to Fulani residents.
A 40-year-old shepherd, who had taken refuge in an abandoned house with his nine-year-old daughter, recounted discovering seventeen bodies under a tree after the assailants departed. “The victims were riddled with bullets,” he stated. “One man’s head was completely shattered. Spent cartridges littered the ground around the bodies.”
Local accounts indicate that JNIM fighters had warned residents of the approaching military force, prompting many to flee. However, those unable to escape were rounded up and killed. “There was no clash between the two sides; the jihadists had already withdrawn,” explained a survivor.
Community leaders compiled a list of the 21 victims, all men aged 20 to 65. Some residents alleged additional fatalities in the surrounding bushland. “We heard at least fifteen more men were killed out there,” said a villager. “But we didn’t go to check—we were too afraid the army would return.”
Balle village witnesses nine civilian deaths on October 13th
Thirteen days later, a similar operation unfolded in Balle, located roughly 55 kilometers from Kamona. Soldiers in five pick-up trucks and dozos on at least thirty motorcycles descended on the village, triggering panic among inhabitants. A 24-year-old man recalled: “I didn’t flee immediately, but when I saw soldiers going door-to-door and assaulting men, I ran. From my hiding place, I heard gunfire.”
The assault resulted in the deaths of ten civilians, including nine men aged 22 to 67 and a 55-year-old woman. The attackers also looted over one hundred cattle. A 33-year-old resident found the bodies scattered in the village center. “They were lined up, riddled with bullets,” he said. “Some had broken limbs.”
The victim’s 21-year-old daughter described her mother’s final moments. “She confronted the soldiers, accusing them of abusing villagers,” she recounted. “They dragged her to where the men had been gathered and shot her dead.”
Military denies allegations, but residents dispute claims
The Malian Armed Forces’ Chief of Staff issued a statement on October 14th, asserting that a “combat reconnaissance” mission near Balle had “neutralized around twenty terrorists” and seized military equipment. However, villagers refuted these claims, insisting Balle had been under JNIM control for years. “We pay zakat to them every year,” said one resident. “They settle disputes and provide security. There are no soldiers, gendarmes, or police here. The army doesn’t distinguish between us and them.”
Since 2012, Mali has grappled with an insurgency that has displaced over 400,000 people and claimed thousands of civilian lives. Both state forces and allied militias, as well as armed Islamist groups like JNIM, have been implicated in grave abuses. Military operations against civilians in Ségou followed a siege imposed by JNIM on Bamako in early September, which disrupted fuel supplies and forced the temporary closure of all schools and universities nationwide.
International law and accountability
All parties to the conflict in Mali are bound by international humanitarian law, including the Geneva Conventions’ Common Article 3 and customary laws of war. These frameworks prohibit attacks on civilians, summary executions, torture, and cruel treatment. Individuals responsible for war crimes, whether through direct action or command authority, may face prosecution.
Although Mali withdrew from the International Criminal Court (ICC) in September, it remains a party to the Rome Statute until September 2026. The ICC opened an investigation into alleged war crimes in Mali in 2013.
The African Union (AU) has faced criticism for its limited response to the escalating crisis. Despite its mandate to promote peace and security, the AU’s Peace and Security Council has confined itself to issuing statements expressing concern, failing to take decisive action.
“The situation in Mali demands urgent attention from the AU,” emphasized a regional analyst. “Regular briefings, strengthened diplomatic efforts, and coordinated regional and international actions are essential to ensure accountability for abuses committed by all parties.”
