(Geneva) The UN expert on the human rights situation in Mali accused Wagner’s Russian mercenaries on Monday of “terrorizing” the population and taking part in military operations.
In a statement released after a 10-day visit, Alioune Tine said he had received reports that Wagner mercenaries had “participated in military operations, terrorized villagers, executed civilians, stolen property, including livestock and jewelry, and raped women and girls.”
Malian authorities only recognize the presence of “military instructors” deployed to train Malian security forces in the use of military equipment acquired from Russia, recalled Mr. Tine, who is mandated by the Human Rights Council. Man, but does not speak on behalf of the United Nations.
“However, I would like to emphasize, as I have done in previous reports, that I have received information from credible sources that Russian military and security personnel are indeed involved in combat operations and would commit serious human rights violations and abuses,” the expert said.
According to him, the Malian authorities he met during this visit are committed to investigating the allegations of violations involving Russian military and security personnel.
Beyond Wagner’s question, the UN expert urged Mali, which has been led by putschist soldiers since August 2020, to open up civic and democratic space and to redouble its efforts to fight against impunity for human rights violations, in view of the promised transition towards a restoration of elected civilian power.
“My mission took place in a tense context, marked by the continuous shrinking of civic space, attacks against human rights defenders and civil society by state and non-state actors”, he lamented. .
“For the first time, upon our arrival at Bamako airport, my assistant and I were stopped and interrogated by police officers,” he said. .
His arrival in Mali on February 5 also coincided with the authorities’ decision to expel the director of the human rights division of the United Nations Mission in Mali (Minusma), Guillaume Ngefa.