📋 Tender Overview
UN experts today called for an immediate independent investigation into gross human rights violations and possible war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Mali by government forces and the military society and private security known as the Wagner Group since 2021.Since 2021 experts have received persistent and alarming accounts of horrific executions mass graves acts of torture rape and sexual violence looting arbitrary detentions and enforced disappearances perpetrated by the Malian armed forces and their allies in the Mopti region and elsewhere in the context of the ongoing hostilities.We are particularly concerned by credible reports that over several days at the end of March 2022 the Malian armed forces accompanied by soldiers suspected of belonging to the Wagner group executed several hundred people who had been gathered in Moura a village in central Mali the UN experts said.Most of the victims were from the Fulani minority they said.We are troubled by the apparent increase in the allocation of traditional military functions to the Wagner group in various military operations including operations defined as counter-terrorism notably in Nia Ouro Gouni and Fakala the experts added.Mali must exercise the utmost vigilance to prohibit the direct participation in hostilities of all individuals operating on its territory. The use of mercenaries mercenary-like actors and private military and security companies only exacerbates the cycle of violence and impunity that prevails in the country the experts said.Victims of the Wagner Group face many challenges in accessing justice and reparations for human rights violations including sexual violence and crimes committed against them particularly due to secrecy and lack of security. opacity surrounding Wagners activities in Mali.The lack of transparency and ambiguity over the Wagner Groups legal status combined with retaliation against those who dare to speak out creates an overall climate of terror for victims and total impunity for Wagner Group abuses.The experts raised their concerns directly with the Malian government.
