Malian soldiers and members of the Russian-controlled Africa Corps took part in the abuse of civilian detainees, including beatings, electric shocks and water torture, according to a Human Rights Watch investigation published on October 22.
The human rights organization examined events in the central Malian region of Mopti. In August and September, researchers remotely interviewed 15 people, including four former detainees held at a military base in the city of Sévaré, three witnesses to an airstrike and eight representatives of nongovernmental organizations.
According to former detainees, Malian soldiers and Africa Corps personnel held prisoners inside a metal container at the Hamadoun Bocary Barry military base. The container had no windows, toilet, ventilation or washing facilities. Detainees received little food and water and were denied necessary medical care.
One former detainee said the number of people held inside the container increased from 27 to more than 70 during his detention.
Three former detainees said Malian and Russian military personnel repeatedly tortured them during interrogations, seeking confessions about alleged links to the Islamist group Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM). They described beatings, electric shocks, having their heads submerged in water and burns.
One former detainee said eight people died while he was held there. Human Rights Watch was unable to independently verify that figure.
The same investigation documented a drone strike on the village of Guélédjé on September 16. According to HRW, eight civilian men aged between 25 and 40 were killed and at least six other people were injured.
Witnesses said people had gathered near a tree where a local resident offered paid access to Starlink satellite internet. Researchers verified footage showing the aftermath of the strike and geolocated the recording.
Malian military officials said they had identified and killed suspected militants using satellite communications and military equipment. Human Rights Watch, however, said the available evidence indicated that civilians had been killed. The organization did not claim that Russian personnel directly carried out the strike.
In early October, the rights group sent inquiries to the defense ministries of Mali and Russia but had received no responses by the time its investigation was published.
Human Rights Watch called for an independent investigation and accountability for those responsible. In the organization's assessment, the reported abuses may constitute serious violations of international humanitarian law.