On Monday February 17, around 20 people were killed in northern Mali when their vehicles were ambushed. Local sources have accused Wagner mercenaries and the Malian Army of carrying out the attack, which took place as the group was travelling towards Algeria. According to a relative of one of the victims, the attackers included both Wagner forces and Malian soldiers. The dead included illegal migrants and nomads, with all passengers in the first vehicle, including the driver, reported dead.
Mali’s army has not officially commented on the accusations, although a military source denied the allegations, stating that an investigation was underway. The Gao region representative confirmed the deaths of at least 20 people in the two vehicles, calling the incident serious but stopping short of assigning blame. Separatist rebel group Front for the Liberation of Azawad (FLA) condemned the attack, accusing the Malian army and Wagner mercenaries of carrying out “ethnic cleansing” against the Azawad population.
This attack comes amid ongoing violence in Mali, where the military junta, in power since 2021, has been facing growing criticism for its role in the security crisis. The junta, which severed ties with France, has been supported by Wagner mercenaries. Human rights organisations, including Human Rights Watch, have denounced the ongoing atrocities committed against civilians by both the Malian army and Wagner forces, alongside extremist groups in the region.