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Human Rights Watch (HRW) reported on Tuesday that Mali’s military and an allied traditional militia, the Dozo hunters, killed at least 31 civilians and burnt homes during two separate attacks in the central Segou region last month.
The attacks targeted the villages of Kamona (October 2) and Balle (October 13), areas reportedly controlled by the Al-Qaeda-linked Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM).
Witnesses told HRW that the Malian forces accused villagers of collaborating with the militant group before carrying out the executions.
At least 21 men were killed and 10 homes were burnt in Kamona, followed by the killing of nine men and one woman in Balle.
The killings underscore the difficult security environment in Mali, where the junta has failed to curb the decade-long terrorism insurgency.
JNIM has recently intensified its operations, including imposing an economic fuel blockade and attacking military installations.
According to residents in Balle, who said their village has been under JNIM control for years, the military doesn’t differentiate between militants and the civilian population, assuming all residents are fighters.
The report highlights the brutal struggle the junta faces as it attempts to fight an escalating insurgency.
