Human Rights Watch (HRW) has issued a damning report accusing Mali's armed forces and the Wagner Group, a Russia-backed paramilitary organization, of carrying out summary executions and enforced disappearances of ethnic Fulani men. The report, released on Tuesday, states that these violations have been occurring since January 2025, with at least a dozen Fulani men executed and 81 others forcibly disappeared during operations against Islamist armed groups.

The Fulani community, often targeted for recruitment by Islamist militants, has found itself in a precarious position, caught between the militants and government forces. This blurring of lines by the Malian government between Fulani civilians and Islamist fighters has significantly heightened the risks faced by the community.

Ilaria Allegrozzi, senior Sahel researcher at HRW, emphasized the potential legal ramifications for Malian and Russian officials, suggesting they could be held accountable for international crimes. Allegrozzi highlighted the possibility of intervention by the African Union or the International Criminal Court (ICC) to address these abuses.

Under international humanitarian law, specifically Common Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions of 1949, parties in armed conflict are prohibited from committing violent acts such as murder, mutilation, and cruel treatment against non-combatants. Violations of these laws could constitute war crimes, for which Mali, as a state party to the ICC, could be investigated. Indeed, the ICC has been probing alleged war crimes in Mali since 2013 following a military coup and northern rebellion.

Since 2021, HRW has documented a series of abuses by both the Malian army and the Wagner Group in their counterinsurgency efforts. The international community, including UN experts, has condemned these actions, notably in April 2025 when summary executions and enforced disappearances were highlighted.

Despite the Wagner Group's declared withdrawal in June 2025, Russian influence persists in Mali through the Africa Corps, another paramilitary entity reporting directly to the Russian government. In response to the ongoing crisis, HRW has called on the African Union to intensify its efforts in facilitating investigations and promoting prosecutions to hold those responsible accountable.

The international community watches closely as Mali navigates these accusations and the potential for significant legal and diplomatic fallout. The situation remains a poignant reminder of the complexities and human costs associated with conflicts that intertwine ethnic affiliations with national and international politics.