Nine civilians, including women and children, were killed in an attack on a vehicle in Mali’s Segou region last Thursday, a civil society group and a rebel coalition reported late on Saturday. The groups have accused the Malian military and Russian mercenaries of being behind the assault.
The attack took place while the vehicle was traveling from the town of Niono towards a refugee camp in Mauritania. Mohamed Elmaouloud Ramadane, spokesperson for the Tuareg rebel coalition, stated that the vehicle was struck by gunfire as it made its way through the region. The civil society group Kal Akal, which also condemned the attack, attributed responsibility to both the Malian armed forces and the Wagner Group, a Russian private military contractor with a growing presence in the country.
In a separate statement, the leader of the Kel Ansar, one of the largest Tuareg factions, called for an independent investigation into the killings. However, the group disputed the claims that Malian forces were responsible for the deaths of the civilians, adding a layer of uncertainty to the situation.
The Malian military has yet to comment on the incident, while Wagner Group representatives were unavailable for immediate comment.
Wagner fighters have been in Mali since the country’s military took power following coups in 2020 and 2021. Their presence followed the expulsion of French and UN peacekeeping forces, and they have since been assisting Malian forces in the ongoing battle against insurgents and Tuareg separatists.
The attack comes amid rising concerns over the safety of civilians in the region, where armed groups have increasingly targeted local populations in their struggles for control.