“Wagnerites” are killing civilians in Mali – human rights activists

Russian mercenaries of a private military company Wagner is helping Malian troops carry out attacks and drone attacks that have resulted in the deaths of dozens of civilians. This was discussed in a report by the human rights organization Human Rights Watch, AP reports.

It was noted that after the fall of the regime, the new “government” of Mali abandoned the French troops stationed in the territory of its former colony. At the same time, the junta invited help from Russia, which sent fighters from PMCs to the region Wagner.

“Violence in Mali has increased since Russian mercenaries arrived there following a coup in 2021. The ruling junta has stepped up operations with deadly drone strikes targeting civilian gatherings, as well as raids by Russian mercenaries who killed civilians,” the report said.

The publication is already writing, despite the death of the leader Wagner Evgeniy Prigozhin, the PMC continues to operate in Mali. Specifically, in January, Wagner’s troops entered a village near a military base in central Mali and arrested 25 people, including four children. Their bodies were later found, blindfolded and with bullet wounds to the head.

Recently, at least 13 more civilians have died in Mali due to drone strikes, including seven children aged 2 to 17 years.

Earlier it was reported that Russia, in order to expand its influence in Africa, planned to create an expeditionary force of 20 thousand mercenaries instead of PMC militants Wagner.