Mali security crisis as army and allied militias accused of civilian massacres

Massacres in Ségou: Army and Dozos Accused of Killing 31 Civilians

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Bamako, Mali — On October 2nd and 13th, soldiers from the Malian Armed Forces and allied militias launched deadly raids on two villages in the Ségou region, resulting in the deaths of at least 31 civilians and the torching of homes, according to local accounts.

Witness testimonies and community leaders describe a pattern of violence in which soldiers, accompanied by dozos—traditional hunters from the Bambara ethnic group involved in counter-insurgency operations for over a decade—executed men accused of collaborating with the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (GSIM), an Al-Qaeda-linked faction controlling parts of central Mali. The attacks occurred amid escalating tensions following recent GSIM offensives, including an assault on the Siribala sugar refinery in August.

Kamona: 21 Men Executed, Homes Burned

On October 2nd, around 10 a.m., a convoy of at least seven pickup trucks, three armored vehicles, and several motorcycles carrying dozos stormed the village of Kamona. Soldiers and militiamen forcibly gathered male residents, accusing them of ties to the GSIM. Those unable to flee were executed on the spot. “Those who couldn’t escape were rounded up and shot,” recounted a survivor.

Witnesses reported that GSIM fighters had warned villagers of the approaching military, prompting many to flee. However, no clashes between the army and insurgents were reported. Instead, soldiers and dozos set fire to at least 10 huts and three storage buildings belonging to Fulani residents.

Later that day, a 40-year-old herder hiding in an abandoned house with his 9-year-old daughter discovered 17 bodies under a tree. “The victims were riddled with bullets,” he said. “One man’s head was completely shattered. I saw spent bullet casings scattered around the bodies.” Villagers buried the dead in a mass grave, while four additional bodies were found to the north, all with gunshot wounds to the head and torso.

A 39-year-old man who helped bury the dead described the scene: “We dug one pit under the tree for the 17 men. Further north, we found four more bodies, all shot in the stomach and head. We buried them in another grave and covered them with sand.”

Local leaders provided a list of 21 victims, all men aged 20 to 65. Some villagers claimed an additional 15 men may have been killed in the surrounding bush, but fear prevented them from verifying the claims. “We heard gunshots echoing in the distance,” one resident said. “We didn’t dare go check.”

Balle: 10 Civilians Killed, Livestock Stolen

Thirteen days later, on October 13th, soldiers in five pickup trucks and dozos on 30 motorcycles entered the village of Balle, sparking panic. A 24-year-old man recounted: “I didn’t flee immediately, but when I saw soldiers breaking into homes and beating men, I ran. From my hiding place, I heard gunshots.”

According to witnesses, soldiers and dozos killed 10 civilians, including a 55-year-old woman, and stole over 100 cattle. A 33-year-old man found the bodies piled together in the village center. “They were shot at close range,” he said. “Some had broken limbs.”

The daughter of the slain woman, aged 21, described her mother’s final moments: “She shouted at the soldiers, accusing them of mistreating the villagers. They took her to where the men were gathered and shot her.”

Mali’s military leadership issued a statement claiming the October 13th operation in Balle was an “offensive reconnaissance mission” that “neutralized around twenty terrorists” and seized military equipment. However, residents disputed this narrative, stating Balle had been under GSIM control for years. “We pay zakat to them annually,” said one villager. “Disputes are settled by the jihadists. There are no soldiers, gendarmes, or police here. The army doesn’t differentiate between us and them.”

Accountability and International Response

Since 2012, Mali has been embroiled in a brutal conflict with Islamist armed groups, resulting in thousands of civilian deaths and displacing over 402,000 people. Human rights organizations have documented widespread abuses by both state forces and insurgent groups, including extrajudicial killings, torture, and destruction of property.

The recent attacks in Ségou coincide with a GSIM siege on Bamako, which has disrupted fuel supplies and forced the military junta to suspend all schools and universities nationwide. International humanitarian law prohibits attacks on civilians, as well as murder, torture, and cruel treatment of detainees. Those responsible for war crimes may face prosecution under the Rome Statute, despite Mali’s withdrawal from the International Criminal Court (ICC) in September 2025. Mali remains a State Party to the Statute until September 2026, and the ICC has been investigating alleged war crimes in the country since 2012.

The African Union (AU) has faced criticism for its limited response to the deteriorating security situation in Mali. Human rights advocates urge the AU Peace and Security Council to prioritize the conflict, emphasizing the need for diplomatic pressure, regional coordination, and justice for victims. “The Council must hold regular briefings and strengthen accountability efforts for abuses committed by all parties,” stated a senior researcher.