France, Mali Suspend Visa issuance as Diplomatic Spat Escalates

France and Mali stopped giving visas to each other's citizens, as tensions between the two former allies have grown, Le Mond

The U.S. Department of Treasury earlier designated Defense Minister Colonel Sadio Camara, Air Force Chief of Staff Colonel Alou Boi Diarra, and Deputy Chief of Staff Lieutenant Colonel Adama Bagayoko, for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, the Wagner Group, a U.S.-designated entity.

Human Rights Watch earlier accused Mali forces and foreign fighters, possibly from the Russia-linked Wagner Group, of being linked to the execution and disappearance of several dozen civilians in Mali's central region since December 2022. They are also accused of looting and destroying civilian property and torturing detainees at an army camp.

People interviewed said that the Mali armed forces committed the abuses during military operations in response to the presence of militant armed groups in Ouenkoro, Séguéla, Sossobé, and Thioffol villages, in Mopti and Ségou regions.

During all the operations, except the one in Thioffol, witnesses reported the involvement of foreign, non-French-speaking armed men who they described as "white", or "Russians," or "Wagner." These cases are a fraction of the abuses committed by the Mali armed forces and affiliated foreign fighters in Mali in the past year.

"The UN peacekeepers' impending withdrawal makes it more crucial than ever for the Mali authorities to protect civilians and prevent further abuses during military operations," said Carine Kaneza Nantulya, deputy Africa director at Human Rights Watch. "The African Union and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) should express their concerns about grave abuses by the Mali armed forces and allied apparent Wagner Group fighters and increase pressure on the Mali authorities to end these violations and hold those responsible to account."