Human Rights Watch has documented disturbing patterns of violence in Mali, where the Jamaat Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM), allied with the Azavad Liberation Front (FLA), alongside Malian security forces and Russian-backed Africa Corps units, stand accused of committing grave violations against civilians since mid-April.

The report highlights indiscriminate attacks on non-combatants, with evidence of deliberate destruction of homes and businesses. In Gao and Kidal, coordinated offensives by JNIM and FLA factions have resulted in at least 13 civilian fatalities and 25 injuries, according to local testimonies.

A 38-year-old resident of Kidal recounted his harrowing experience, stating, “I was struck by gunfire to my right shoulder and left thigh”, unable to determine the source of the bullets amid chaotic crossfire.

Unverified executions and targeted strikes

HRW’s investigation reveals allegations that JNIM militants torched over 40 civilian vehicles between May 6 and 21 along key routes toward Bamako. The group is also accused of executing a man in Tonka, with witnesses describing the discovery of his body bearing a gunshot wound to the head.

Malian military operations in central regions have drawn criticism after HRW reported 38 civilian deaths, including 23 children, during raids targeting Fulani communities. Two suspected drone strikes in Guimbé and Tené have further compounded civilian casualties, with survivors describing the sudden devastation: “We heard a noise from the sky, then an explosion. The damage was catastrophic—many were killed or injured.”

To substantiate these claims, HRW conducted 34 remote interviews, analyzed satellite imagery, videos, and photographs. The organization noted that despite multiple requests for comment, Malian authorities have yet to respond. JNIM representatives countered that “no war can be waged without human cost,” while FLA spokespersons asserted they had “implemented precautions to minimize civilian harm.”