Killing, Looting and Destruction: Human Rights Watch Accuses All Parties in Mali

Since April 2026, the escalation of violence in Manga has led to a profound human tragedy across the country. Human Rights Watch accuses all actors in the conflict of extensive and severe human rights violations against civilians. As the scale of the security crisis in the country continues to grow, the international community's attention to the region has also increased. Mutual accusations between the conflicting parties do not provide clear visibility regarding who is responsible for the atrocities. Unfortunately, the innocent civilians caught in the middle of the conflict have become the primary target of the attacks. This situation raises serious concerns that the West African country is sliding toward civil war.

Civilians, situated at the center of the conflict between the parties, are trapped as if in a ring of fire. On one hand, organized and coordinated attacks by armed groups, and on the other, operations by state forces, have completely paralyzed daily life. According to information provided by eyewitnesses, numerous civilians have lost their lives in these organized attacks on residential areas. The information reflected in Human Rights Watch's reports indicates that civilians are being deliberately targeted. The looting and destruction during these attacks have made it impossible for the region's inhabitants to sustain their lives. People are confronted with immense devastation not only through physical violence but also through the deprivation of their basic life resources.

One of the most terrifying elements among the dynamics of the conflict is the suspected drone strikes. These aerial bombings, the perpetrators of which cannot be definitively identified, have caused massive panic and destruction in civilian settlements. Human Rights Watch is investigating whether the airstrikes violate international humanitarian law and criticizes the uncontrolled use of these vehicles. Although such air operations are generally planned to destroy military targets, the realities on the ground reveal that civilian casualties are exceedingly high. The exposure of civilian areas to airstrikes stands out as one of the most significant factors forcing the local population to flee. Furthermore, the lack of transparency regarding the use of these drones paves the way for the concealment of the truth and the impunity of the perpetrators.

The brutal massacres occurring in different parts of the country have begun to target the most vulnerable members of society. According to the findings of Human Rights Watch, horrific massacres have taken place where even children have been targeted or subjected to violence. This situation is considered the clearest evidence that all written and unwritten rules of war are being trampled. The severe impact of these conflicts on women, the elderly, and children is causing the emergence of a traumatized generation in the region. The fact that even a child can become a target of armed conflict reveals the scale of the brutality and humanitarian callousness in the region. The failure to bring the perpetrators of such inhumane acts to justice fuels retaliatory violence and an endless cycle of hatred in the region.

In this complex and bloody conflict environment taking place in Mali, all parties are found to be complicit in serious human rights violations. Government forces, Russia-backed mercenaries, and separatist armed groups are accused not only of failing to fulfill their obligations to protect civilians but also of committing crimes against them. Human Rights Watch is urgently calling for the establishment of an independent and international commission of inquiry. It is imperative that the international community and regional organizations do not remain silent in the face of these developments to prevent further bloodshed. Documenting the violations and punishing the perpetrators is the first step that must be taken to establish justice for the Malian people. Otherwise, the deepening of this environment of chaos and humanitarian crisis in the country to an extent that will affect future generations will be inevitable.