Russian News
AFRICA NEWS
UN experts demand probe of reported mass killings in Mali
UN experts demand probe of reported mass killings in Mali
by AFP Staff Writers
Geneva (AFP) April 30, 2025

UN experts on Wednesday demanded investigations into the alleged summary executions of dozens of people in Mali and the enforced disappearance of others, warning of possible war crimes and crimes against humanity.

The group of more than a dozen independent United Nations experts voiced outrage after the discovery last week of bodies near a Malian military camp days after the army and Russian mercenaries arrested dozens of civilians.

"We urge Malian authorities to conduct prompt, effective, thorough, independent, impartial and transparent investigations into these killings and enforced disappearances," the experts said in a statement.

"Those responsible for unlawful killings and enforced disappearances, whether by direct involvement or complicity, must be prosecuted."

Mali, ruled by a junta following coups in 2020 and 2021, has been grappling with widespread insecurity for more than a decade, largely fuelled by Islamist fighters linked to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group.

The country's military rulers have broken their long-standing alliance with former colonial ruler France and turned toward Russia.

The junta enlists the services of what it claims are Russian military instructors, but who -- according to a host of experts and observers -- are mercenaries from the private Russian company Wagner.

In Wednesday's statement, the 13 experts, including the UN special rapporteurs on the rights situation in Mali and on summary executions, stressed that unlawful killings could amount to war crimes.

Enforced disappearances may meanwhile constitute crimes against humanity if they are part of widespread or systematic attacks against civilians, they said.

On April 12, Malian army soldiers and Russian mercenaries arrested dozens of men at a market in Sebabougou, in the country's southwest, and took them to the Kawla military camp, two survivors who fled to Mauritania told AFP.

"According to unconfirmed reports, those arrested were tortured and interrogated about alleged links with 'terrorists' at the Kwala military camp," the expert statement said.

"Afterwards, military and security personnel recruited by the Wagner Group reportedly took the victims out of the camp and executed them."

While the exact death toll remained unclear, at least 65 people reportedly disappeared or went missing after being arrested in Sebabougou.

The independent experts, who are mandated by the UN Human Rights Council but do not speak on behalf of the United Nations, said they had received a list from credible sources purporting to show the names of 54 alleged male victims.

"We are deeply troubled by the apparent total impunity and lack of prosecution or prevention of these violations," the experts said.

"Under international law, military commanders and other superiors, including government officials, can be held criminally responsible for crimes committed by armed forces under their effective command and control."

Sudan paramilitaries kill at least 165 in Darfur city over 10 days: activists
Port Sudan, Sudan (AFP) April 30, 2025 - Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have killed at least 165 civilians over the past 10 days in attacks on a besieged city in the war-torn country's western Darfur region, activists said on Wednesday.

The RSF, locked in a brutal conflict with the army since April 2023, pounded North Darfur's capital El-Fasher with more than 750 mortars, tank shells and heavy artillery rounds, said the local resistance committee, one of hundreds of volunteer groups coordinating aid across Sudan.

The activists said the death toll was confirmed by health facilities following what they described as a "bloody massacre" that targeted residential neighbourhoods, markets and displacement camps.

They added that the real toll was likely higher, with many victims reportedly dying at the scene of the bombardments before they could be taken to hospitals.

El-Fasher is the last major city in the Darfur region still under army control.

The battle for it has intensified in recent weeks, with the UN and international observers warning of a possible large-scale atrocity.

The RSF ratcheted up its assaults on El-Fasher and its surrounding famine-hit displacement camps after the army regained control of Sudan's capital Khartoum last month.

The war, now in its third year, has killed tens of thousands, displaced 13 million and created what the United Nations describes as the world's worst humanitarian crisis.

The conflict has effectively divided the country in two, with the army holding the centre, east and north, and the RSF controlling nearly all of Darfur and parts of the south.

Famine has officially been declared in five areas across Sudan, including three displacement camps near El-Fasher, according to a UN-backed assessment.

Related Links
Africa News - Resources, Health, Food

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
AFRICA NEWS
Evacuation of DR Congo troops from M23 zone begins
Goma, Dr Congo (AFP) April 30, 2025
An evacuation of hundreds of Democratic Republic of Congo troops and police trapped for months in UN bases in Goma after the city was taken by M23 rebels began on Wednesday, the ICRC said. The International Committee of the Red Cross said it was accompanying "a series of convoys" from Goma to the capital Kinshasa carrying the disarmed personnel and members of their families from one of the bases. The evacuation came after lengthy negotiations between United Nations representatives, the DRC gover ... read more

AFRICA NEWS
Confidence in NATO security guarantees plunges in Finland: survey

'Blood and kin': Mongolians reflect on Pope Francis's legacy

Chinese Catholics mourn Pope Francis, mull Church's future

Crimea, territory at heart of US-Ukraine tensions

AFRICA NEWS
US expects Iran talks but Trump presses sanctions

Iran says next nuclear talks with US set for Saturday in Rome, Gets cranky with Paris

Iran accuses Israel's Netanyahu of 'dictating' US policy in nuclear talks

Israel's Netanyahu calls for 'dismantling' Iran's nuclear infrastructure

AFRICA NEWS
New Shenzhou Crew Begins Handover Operations Aboard Tiangong

Commercial space sector drives China's high-tech ambitions

10 Intertnational lunar projects picked for Chang'e 8 mission

SAR astronauts prepare for landmark 2026 space mission

AFRICA NEWS
9 dead, dozens hurt after boats capsize in China: state media

Bad weather postpones return of Chinese astronauts to Earth

New York ex-cop jailed for hounding US residents for China

UK demands answers after MP denied entry to Hong Kong

AFRICA NEWS
Australia launches "world's largest" battery-power ship

ITER completes record breaking superconducting magnet system for fusion energy

Microscale weld imaging unlocks improved durability for fusion power plants

Indonesia says China's Huayou to replace LGES in EV battery project

AFRICA NEWS
AFRICA NEWS
Sidus Space awarded US patent allowance for modular satellite system

HRL and Boeing advance quantum satellite communications milestone

Armed Forces Network to reduce radio programs next month

US says China satellite company aiding attacks by Yemen's Huthis

AFRICA NEWS
Denmark to add 5,000 military positions

Nordics, Lithuania plan joint purchase of combat vehicles

Germany leads allies in $24B military aid package for Ukraine

Finland to leave anti-personnel mine treaty

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.