Violence escalates in Mali as civilians caught in crossfire

Human Rights Watch has released a damning report detailing a surge in violence across Mali following the military shift of April 25. Regular forces, allied Russian troops, and Islamist insurgents are engaged in a vicious cycle of retaliation, leaving civilians to bear the brunt of the crisis. Beyond the human toll, a deliberate campaign to cripple the economy is plunging communities into extreme hardship.

Kidal’s fall triggers brutal counteroffensive

The capture of Kidal on April 25 by the Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM) and the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) marked a turning point in Mali’s conflict. The loss of the city, along with the killing of Defense Minister Sadio Camara, prompted a swift and aggressive response from the central government. Malian Armed Forces (FAMa), supported by Russian instructors from Africa Corps, launched a high-intensity counteroffensive. While authorities conceal the true human cost, HRW’s investigations reveal at least 13 civilian deaths and 25 injuries in the initial clashes in Gao and Kidal.

Fueling the crisis: jihadists weaponize economic strangulation

JNIM’s strategy has evolved into economic warfare, targeting Mali’s lifelines to pressure Bamako. The group enforces strict roadblocks, disrupting supply chains and isolating regions. Between May 6 and 21, over 40 civilian transport vehicles were intercepted and destroyed. Civilian trucks carrying fuel have been systematically targeted since September 2025, cutting off entire areas from electricity and gasoline. Schools close, markets stall, and families face hunger as fuel shortages paralyze daily life.

The insurgents’ grip extends beyond logistics. In Tonka, near Tombouctou, a public execution served as a grim warning to locals resisting their rule, further deepening the climate of fear.

Humanitarian crisis deepens

• JNIM’s tactics: Roadblocks → fuel and energy shortages → soaring inflation and famine.
• FAMa and Africa Corps response: Drone strikes → mass displacement and civilian casualties.

Bamako-Moscow alliance accused of civilian targeting

HRW also highlights severe abuses by Malian forces and their Russian allies. In central Mali, civilians—particularly from the Fulani community—are routinely targeted under the guise of counterinsurgency. Between May 14 and 17, investigations documented 38 civilian deaths in ground operations, including 23 children.

Unmanned aerial strikes have compounded the tragedy:

• Guimbé (April 25): A drone strike killed 12 children and adolescents.
• Téné (May 17): A wedding ceremony was struck, leaving 10 civilians dead.

No accountability, no justice

JNIM justified its actions to HRW investigators, claiming targeted civilians had defied its imposed regulations. Meanwhile, Mali’s Ministry of Justice remained silent, ignoring requests for transparency and legal responses from the human rights organization.

Call for international intervention

With violations of international humanitarian law escalating, impunity remains the biggest obstacle to peace. Ilaria Allegrozzi, Sahel senior researcher at Human Rights Watch, warns that the absence of accountability has fueled the crisis. Since the withdrawal of the UN’s former mission, Mali’s slide into lawlessness has accelerated. The organization urges the African Union and United Nations to urgently deploy a fact-finding mission to gather evidence for future prosecutions.