Wagner Group: Torture and kidnapping in Mali-civilians suffer!

Wagner Group: Torture and kidnapping in Mali-civilians suffer!

The activities of the Russian mercenary group Wagner in Mali have increasingly attracted international attention. According to reports, the group kidnapped hundreds of civilians between 2022 and 2024. This critical information is based on an investigation by the Forbidden Stories journalist network, which is based on statements of Malician refugees in Mauritania. The research was supported by three international media houses, including "Le Monde". According to FAZ were identified six specific locations in Mali, at which the Wagner group were identified Civilians held up, including some former UN support points.

In addition to the kidnappings, the group is also held responsible for systematic torture. Survivors report the most brutal methods such as waterboarding, strokes and burns with cigarettes. These reports show frightening parallels to torture methods that were used in conflicts such as in Ukraine. While the Malian military junta, which has been in power in 2020 and 2021, was looking for the support of the Wagner group in the fight against jihadist groups, the presence of mercenaries was never officially admitted. Instead, the government only spoke of Russian instructors, which is seen as an attempt by many sides.

torture and human rights violations

The illegal detains and the associated torture have repeatedly led to deaths among the prisoners. A UN examination accuses the Malian Army and "Foreign" fighters of having killed at least 500 civilians in March 2022. Diplomatic sources suspect that the Wagner mercenaries will soon be integrated into an African Akorps subordinate to the Russian Ministry of Defense, which could further consolidate the influence of Russia in the region. Reports from Zeit This would be a strategic step to consolidate the military presence in Africa.

On June 12, 2025, it became known that the Wagner Group Mali will be officially left. But whether this departure heralds a real turn in the country's violent practices remains questionable. The military conflicts in Mali are still pronounced; The Malian armed forces and Wagner fighters have illegally killed several dozen civilians during counter-insurrection operations. The human rights organization Human Rights Watch documented numerous cases of abuse by the Malian armed forces and Wagner fighter for the period after December 2023, including well-considered attacks on civil weddings and burials in which innocent lives were lost.

international reactions and future prospects

Mali has increasingly deteriorated his relationships with the United Nations and other West African neighbors. In December 2023, the UN mission Minusma withdrawn at the request of the Malian transition authorities. In addition, Mali left the West African states (Ecowas) in January 2024, which further affects the access of the victims to justice. In addition, the efforts of the Malian government to investigate human rights violations and their consequences remain questionable. In this regard, there is great skepticism about the effectiveness of the state's national human rights commission.

The events in Mali are not only a locally limited problem, but also lead a light on the complex international interdependencies of geopolitical interests, especially when it comes to Russia's influence in Africa. The departure of the Wagner Group could possibly develop new dynamics in the region, but the continuing conflicts and human rights violations remain a dark reality for the civilian population