UN mission sounds alarm over rising violence, rights abuses in Mali

By Aurore Bonny

DOUALA, Cameroon (AA) – Human rights violations and abuses have soared in Mali, with an increase of 25% recorded in the second quarter of 2021, the UN mission in the West African country said on Monday.

“The second quarter of the year was marked by an increase in the number of civilians affected by violations and abuses of international human rights law and violations of international humanitarian law,” the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) said in its quarterly report.

“Between April and June, at least 527 civilians were killed, injured, or abducted/disappeared, an overall increase of more than 25% from the first quarter (421),” it added.

According to the UN mission, the Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), a terrorist group linked to al-Qaeda, the regional Daesh/ISIS affiliate known as Islamic State in the Greater Sahara, and other similar groups were responsible for “the majority of violent incidents against civilians.”

They “killed, injured, or abducted 54% of the victims recorded nationwide… followed by community-based militias and self-defense groups (20%),” the report said.

The JNIM and other groups have “continued to strengthen their territorial hold, particularly in the rural areas of Central Mali,” along with “a notable expansion” in the country’s southern parts, according to MINUSMA.

Some 50% of the “acts of violence committed against civilians” were in the Bandiagara, Douentza, Djenne, Koro, Mopti, Niono, and Segou areas of Mali, the report said.

The regions of Ansongo and Gao accounted for some 15% of the incidents, it added.

“Through local ‘non-aggression or reconciliation’ agreements signed under duress by beleaguered communities, these groups have also been able to impose draconian restrictions on the exercise of fundamental freedoms, particularly against women,” MINUSMA said.

- Rights violations by Malian forces

The UN mission said it has also documented human rights violations during security operations of the Malian Defense and Security Forces (MDSF) and international and regional forces.

“These accounted for 9% and 6%, respectively, of the total number of victims during the reporting period,” the report said.

Operations by the MDSF and international forces “resulted in serious human rights violations against local populations,” it added.

The Malian military said it had taken necessary action over the matter.

“It's a report that dates back months. We have already discussed this with MINUSMA. We have nothing more to say about it,” a military official who requested anonymity told Anadolu Agency.

“Work has been done in relation to this situation and those responsible have answered for their actions,” he asserted.