Massacres in central Mali villages linked to army and allied militias

Deadly raids leave at least 31 civilians dead in Ségou region

NAIROBI — Military forces and allied militias in Mali have been implicated in a series of brutal attacks that left at least 31 civilians dead and homes destroyed in two villages in the conflict-stricken Ségou region earlier this month. The incidents, occurring on October 2 and 13, have drawn sharp condemnation amid escalating violence in central Mali.

On October 2, soldiers from the Malian Armed Forces and their allies, including Dozos militias—traditionally composed of Bambara ethnic members engaged in counterinsurgency operations for over a decade—entered the village of Kamona. Witnesses reported that at least 21 men were summarily executed, and at least 10 homes were set ablaze. A second attack on October 13 in the nearby village of Balle, located roughly 55 kilometers away, resulted in the deaths of nine men and one woman. Both villages lie within an area under the control of the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (GSIM)—an Al-Qaeda-affiliated faction.

Survivors recounted that the military and Dozos militiamen arrived in Kamona around 10 a.m., targeting men after GSIM fighters had allegedly warned residents of the approaching forces. Many villagers fled in advance, but those who remained were gathered and killed. “Those who couldn’t escape were rounded up and executed,” a survivor told investigators. No clashes between the military and GSIM were reported before or during the attack.

Witnesses identified the soldiers by their camouflage uniforms and the Dozos by their traditional attire and amulets. In Kamona, 17 bodies were later found beneath a tree, with four additional bodies discovered north of the village. Survivors described finding homes and storage huts belonging to Fulani ethnic residents burned to the ground. A 40-year-old shepherd, who had hidden in an abandoned house with his 9-year-old daughter, described the grim scene after the attackers left around 4 p.m.: “The bodies were riddled with bullets. One had his head completely crushed. I also saw spent bullet casings scattered around.”

Another villager, aged 39, recounted assisting in the burial process: “We dug a mass grave under the tree and laid the 17 men to rest. Further north, we found four more bodies, all shot in the abdomen and head. We buried them in another shallow grave and covered them with sand.” A list of 21 victims, all men aged 20 to 65, was provided by locals, though some believe the death toll may be higher. “We heard at least 15 other men were killed in the bush that day, but we didn’t check because we feared the army would return,” a resident stated.

The October 13 attack on Balle followed a similar pattern. Soldiers arrived in five pickup trucks, accompanied by at least 30 Dozos on motorcycles. A 24-year-old man recounted: “I didn’t flee immediately, but when I saw soldiers going door-to-door and beating men, I ran. From my hiding place, I heard gunshots.”

In Balle, the attackers killed 10 civilians, including a 55-year-old woman, and stole over 100 cattle. A 33-year-old man discovered the bodies in the village center: “They were lying side by side, riddled with bullets. Some had broken limbs.” The daughter of the slain woman, aged 21, described her mother’s final moments: “She confronted the soldiers, accusing them of mistreating villagers. They took her to where the men were gathered and shot her.”

Military authorities claimed the October 13 operation in Balle was a “defensive reconnaissance” that “neutralized around twenty terrorists” and seized military equipment. However, residents disputed this, stating that GSIM has controlled Balle for years. “We pay zakat [Islamic tax] every year, and disputes are settled by the jihadists. There are no soldiers, gendarmes, or police here. The army makes no distinction between us and them,” a local explained.

The recent violence follows a wave of attacks by GSIM in the Ségou region, including a strike on the Siribala sugar factory on August 8. Since 2012, successive Malian governments have waged war against Islamist armed groups, resulting in thousands of civilian deaths and displacing over 402,000 people. Both the military and allied militias, as well as GSIM and other armed factions, have been documented committing grave abuses.

These attacks coincide with GSIM’s siege of Bamako, which began in early September, disrupting fuel supplies to the capital and forcing the military junta to temporarily shut down all schools and universities. The escalation underscores the deteriorating security situation in Mali, where all parties to the conflict are bound by international humanitarian law, including Common Article 3 of the 1949 Geneva Conventions and customary laws of war. These laws prohibit attacks on civilians, murder, cruel treatment, and torture, with those responsible for war crimes facing prosecution.

Though Mali withdrew from the International Criminal Court (ICC) in September, it remains a State 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 worsening 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 Council must prioritize the Mali conflict,” stressed a senior researcher. “It should hold regular briefings, strengthen diplomatic efforts, and coordinate regional and international actions to ensure accountability for abuses by all parties.”

International obligations and accountability

As the crisis deepens, calls for accountability grow louder. The Malian government has yet to respond to inquiries regarding the October attacks. Investigators, who interviewed 10 individuals—including witnesses, community leaders, activists, and journalists—via phone in October, await official clarification. A November 8 letter to the Ministers of Justice and Defense remained unanswered at the time of reporting.

The unfolding tragedy in Ségou serves as a stark reminder of the human cost of Mali’s decade-long conflict. With no end in sight, the international community’s role in pressuring all parties to adhere to humanitarian law becomes ever more critical.