Mali: army and militias rape and abuse civilians
New, very serious, accusations were leveled against the Armed Forces of Mali (Fama) and their auxiliaries of the group Wagner, who last Sunday in the municipality of Fakala, near Sofara in the Mopti region in central Mali, allegedly committed group sexual violence about the women of the village. This was reported by the French-speaking media, citing local sources and eyewitnesses contacted directly.
The armed forces, their auxiliaries and Dozo militias would arrive at the village of Tandiama at 5 am on Sunday, only arresting two people, notables of the village. They then headed to Nia-Ouro, a very nearby village already the scene of abuses by the armed forces last January, accusations that have always been rejected by the Malian Army General Staff which claims to have carried out counter-terrorism operations. According to RFI, when the military convoy arrived in the village, the men would all have fled to hide in the bush.
Only women, children and the elderly are left in the village. According to the reconstruction of Rfi, the Dozo took position at the health center, while the Fama and the mercenaries of the Wagner group occupied a school instead. The inhabitants were then ordered to return home. The homes would be inspected by mercenaries, who ordered women to undress to photograph, touch them and, in some cases, even force them to have intercourse.
According to the AFP, these violence was accompanied by looting: gold, silver, furniture and even livestock were stolen, many residents arrested.
It is not the first time that the Fama and its auxiliaries have been accused of violence of this type: in March, during a vast counter-terrorism operation in Moura a few hours after the beginning of Ramadan, several accusations were leveled at the military and mercenaries. always rejected. However, the Malian army has opened an investigation into Moura’s events, the results of which, however, have never been disclosed.
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I am in Mali and I can confirm to you that majority of your report is not true. For the record, RFI was kicked out of Mali for propaganda like this. Any journalist or reporter can say and write whatever they wish ,at the end they make money out of it, but the big question remains if their reports are factual.
I can only be happy if no violence has happened, do you know someone on that village?
The village in question is not far from mother in-laws hometown, so yes I know much about that environment, more so, I have friends and acquaintance working with the UN-Africa-Peace-keeping force in that environment and I'm in touch with them always.
And wagner is not in operation in Mali as you mentioned in your post. It is Macron and RFI that is responsible for these falsehood, all because Mali is no more milking their financial pot as it has been since independence.
For sure they're afraid that Mali natural resources exploitation which France have been illegally benefiting from over so many decades fall in the hands of the Russian empire. So it is easy for them to come up with these propaganda.
The main point here is that, Africa is rising up against all sort of modern day colonisation that corrupt leaders of the continent have imposed on citizens all these decades.
Good to know.
It is good France has been repelled from Mali, i even made a post about it some weeks ago, it is the way to go to build your own fate.
Africa could do well if left free, lot of resources, lof of things to see for tourists with respect for nature...i always had the idea to visit it some day.
Glad you know, Africa is rich, but we're made pour by over ambitious, greedy and corrupt leaders. If our resources were well managed, our reliance on first World countries would be very limited. But these old men loot our resources and magnet themselves to power forever.
Regardless of all that's going on, Mali is still a tourist haven, Bamako and few other places in the country remain safe and accommodating.
Yep, leaders are a big problem, would need more Sankara, a lot of people talk very well about him
People like Thomas Sankara don't last due to their radical patriotism which is not always welcomed by the elder statemen who prefer corrupt leaders.
Since the death of Sankara, there'd never been a true revolutionist who's strive to make life better for the poor masses at all cost. Africa truly miss that guy, he was and still remain an hero. Though an army officer, he was a real democrat. The Burkinabes celebrates him every year.