Several dozen bodies have been discovered near the Malian military camp in Kwala, Koulikoro region, western Mali, in what is being described as a deeply disturbing find.
The remains were uncovered during the night of 21 to 22 April by local residents searching for relatives allegedly arrested by Malian soldiers and Russian Wagner paramilitaries in Sébabougou on 12 April 2025. Due to the advanced state of decomposition, identification of the victims has not been possible.
Community sources and local residents confirmed the discovery to RFI. Witnesses described the harrowing condition of the remains, with some reduced to skeletons. “Only the clothing might help in identifying them,” one said, adding that fear forced them to flee the scene quickly, given its proximity to a military camp. Another local, searching for his brother and cousin arrested earlier in the month, expressed deep concern that they might be among the dead.
This discovery has heightened the anxiety of families of roughly 60 people reportedly detained on 12 April in Sébabougou and taken to an undisclosed location. Since their arrest, no official communication has been issued by the Malian Armed Forces (FAMa) regarding their whereabouts or the newly discovered bodies. The area in question borders Koulikoro, Nara, and Nioro du Sahel, and is known for ongoing conflict involving the Malian army and the Russian Wagner Group against militants from the Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), a group affiliated with al-Qaeda.