Mali soldiers and allied militias accused of killing civilians in Ségou region

In the central region of Ségou, Mali, soldiers and allied militias have been accused of committing grave atrocities against civilians. On October 2 and October 13, at least 31 villagers were killed, and homes were set ablaze in two separate villages under the control of the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (GSIM), an Al-Qaeda-affiliated group.

Mass killings in Kamona: soldiers and Dozos target civilians

On the morning of October 2, Malian soldiers arrived in Kamona aboard at least seven pickups and three armored vehicles, accompanied by Dozos militiamen on motorcycles. The Dozos, predominantly from the Bambara ethnic group, have been active in counterinsurgency operations for over a decade. Witnesses reported that the soldiers and militiamen gathered the men of the village, accusing them of collaborating with the GSIM. Those who could not escape were executed.

«Those who couldn’t flee were rounded up and shot,» a survivor recounted. The attackers set fire to at least 10 homes and three sheds belonging to Fulani residents. A 40-year-old shepherd, who had hidden in an abandoned house with his 9-year-old daughter, later discovered 17 bodies under a tree. «The people had been riddled with bullets,» he said. «One man’s head was completely crushed. I also saw several bullet casings near the bodies.»

The villagers identified the soldiers by their camouflage uniforms and the Dozos by their traditional attire and amulets. A 39-year-old man helped bury the dead, describing how they dug a mass grave under the tree to lay the 17 men to rest. Further north, four more bodies were found, all bearing gunshot wounds to the abdomen and head, which were buried in a separate grave.

According to the villagers’ list, 21 men aged 20 to 65 were killed. However, they suspect additional victims may have perished in the surrounding bush. «We heard that at least 15 other men were killed in the wilderness that day,» a villager stated. «But we didn’t go to check, as we feared the military might return.»

Balle village targeted a second time: women and livestock among the victims

Thirteen days later, on October 13, Malian soldiers in five pickups and Dozos militiamen on 30 motorcycles descended upon Balle, another village under GSIM control. Some residents fled in panic, but others, like a 24-year-old man, witnessed the horrors unfold. «I didn’t run immediately, but when I saw soldiers going door-to-door and beating the men, I fled,» he said. «From my hiding place, I heard gunshots.»

The attackers killed 10 civilians, including a 55-year-old woman and nine men aged 22 to 67. They also stole at least 100 cattle. A 33-year-old man discovered the bodies in the village center. «They were lying side by side, riddled with bullets,» he said. «Some had broken legs and arms.»

The daughter of the slain woman, aged 21, recounted how her mother confronted the soldiers, accusing them of mistreating the villagers. «She approached the soldiers,» she said. «They took her to where the men had been gathered and shot her.»

Military claims disputed: no combatants among the dead

In an October 14 statement, Mali’s Chief of Army Staff claimed that a «counteroffensive reconnaissance» operation near Balle had resulted in the neutralization of «about twenty terrorists» and the seizure of military equipment. However, witnesses and residents strongly dispute this account.

«We have paid zakat [Islamic tax] to the GSIM every year,» a local explained. «If there are disputes, the jihadists resolve them. There are no soldiers, gendarmes, or police here. The army doesn’t distinguish between us and them. They assume we are GSIM fighters.»

The conflict in Mali, which has spanned over a decade, has claimed thousands of civilian lives and displaced more than 400,000 people. Both Malian forces and their allied militias, as well as armed Islamist groups like the GSIM, have been documented committing grave abuses. The recent attacks in Ségou occurred as the GSIM began besieging Bamako, cutting off fuel supplies to the capital and prompting the military junta to temporarily close all schools and universities in the country.

Call for accountability and urgent action

International humanitarian law, including Common Article 3 of the 1949 Geneva Conventions, prohibits attacks on civilians and the killing, torture, or cruel treatment of detainees. Those responsible for such violations, including commanders, may face prosecution for war crimes. Though 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 January 2013.

The African Union (AU) has faced criticism for its limited response to the escalating conflict. Despite its mandate to promote peace and security, the AU’s Peace and Security Council has largely confined itself to issuing statements expressing concern. «The AU Peace and Security Council must make the Mali conflict a priority,» a senior researcher stressed. «It should hold regular briefings, strengthen diplomatic efforts, and coordinate regional and international actions to ensure accountability for abuses by all parties.»