UN peacekeeper on patrol in Mali West Africa (Credit: UN MINUSMA)
By Gary Raynaldo DIPLOMATIC TIMES
UNITED NATIONS – NEW YORK – The UN on Wednesday said it is “extremely concerned” by the Mali government’s apparent refusal to allow independent investigators from UN MINSUMA to visit the town of Moura where local troops and suspected Russian mercenaries allegedly executed about 300 civilians. Human Rights Watch said the alleged killings took place between March 27 and 31 in Moura, a rural town in the Mopti region, a location of jihadist activity.
“We are extremely concerned that Malian authorities have still not granted UN human rights investigators access to the village of Moura, in the central region of Mopti, where Malian Armed Forces reportedly accompanied by foreign military personnel are alleged to have carried out summary executions and multiple other serious human rights violations during a military operation three weeks ago.”
-UN Human Rights Office spokesperson Seif Magango
Defence forces also reportedly raped many civilians – UN
The alleged killings took place between March 27 and 31 in Moura, a rural town in the Mopti region, a location of jihadist activity in Mali.
Magango said preliminary information suggests that the majority of victims were civilians. In addition to the alleged summary executions, the defence forces also reportedly raped, looted, and arbitrarily arrested and detained numerous people during the military operation, among them many civilians, the UN Human Rights Office spokesperson added.
“We also stress the need for the transitional authorities to provide prompt, safe and unhindered access to the area by investigators from the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA), which first sought access to the area on 1 April 2022. An independent on-the-ground investigation is critical, and time is of the essence to ensure accountability and prompt, effective justice for victims.”
-UN Human Rights Office spokesperson Seif Magango
