Danguèrè Wotoro massacre | |
---|---|
Part of Mali War | |
Location | Danguèrè Wotoro, Niono Cercle, Mali |
Date | March 1–2, 2022 |
Deaths | 35 killed (per HRW)
[1] 35-37 killed (per locals) [2] |
Perpetrators |
Malian Army Wagner Group |
On the night between March 1 and 2nd, 2022, Malian forces with the aid of Wagner Group killed over three dozen civilians in Danguèrè Wotoro, near Dogofry, Mali.
On February 20, Malian forces began a spike in arrests in the Niono Cercle, with witnesses saying those arrested were returning from a fair. [3] Other locals in the towns of Nampala, Akoumbou, Tangabe, and Dianweli stated that the Malian troops in the area had recently been committing executions, lootings, and arrests. [4]
Little is known about how the massacre actually played out, because the bodies of civilians were only discovered in the town the following morning. [5] The bodies were discovered piled on top of each other, all bound and tied. [5] All of the victims were men, many of whom had been arrested the previous week, and some were shot while others were burned. [5] The victims were all also Fulani, a nomadic group who the Malian army often attributes to jihadist attacks. [4]
Survivors of Malian-Wagner detainment prior to the massacre stated that they were being held in the Diabaly military camp, and were beaten severely. [5] One survivor said he saw the soldiers remove around 30 men from one cell the night before the massacre. [5]
The Malian government denied any involvement in the massacre, and claimed that mentions of it were "defaming" the government. [6] On March 17, the government banned Radio France Internationale and France 24 for claiming the massacre was perpetrated by the Malian army and Wagner group. [7]
Al-Qaeda-linked Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin claimed responsibility for an attack in Mondoro, stating it was in retribution for the massacre at Danguèrè Wotoro. [8]
Human Rights Watch, MINUSMA, and the locals all accused the Malian Army and Wagner for the attack, with HRW giving a death toll of 35 and RFI claiming 35 to 37 people were killed. [4] [5]
Danguèrè Wotoro massacre | |
---|---|
Part of Mali War | |
Location | Danguèrè Wotoro, Niono Cercle, Mali |
Date | March 1–2, 2022 |
Deaths | 35 killed (per HRW)
[1] 35-37 killed (per locals) [2] |
Perpetrators |
Malian Army Wagner Group |
On the night between March 1 and 2nd, 2022, Malian forces with the aid of Wagner Group killed over three dozen civilians in Danguèrè Wotoro, near Dogofry, Mali.
On February 20, Malian forces began a spike in arrests in the Niono Cercle, with witnesses saying those arrested were returning from a fair. [3] Other locals in the towns of Nampala, Akoumbou, Tangabe, and Dianweli stated that the Malian troops in the area had recently been committing executions, lootings, and arrests. [4]
Little is known about how the massacre actually played out, because the bodies of civilians were only discovered in the town the following morning. [5] The bodies were discovered piled on top of each other, all bound and tied. [5] All of the victims were men, many of whom had been arrested the previous week, and some were shot while others were burned. [5] The victims were all also Fulani, a nomadic group who the Malian army often attributes to jihadist attacks. [4]
Survivors of Malian-Wagner detainment prior to the massacre stated that they were being held in the Diabaly military camp, and were beaten severely. [5] One survivor said he saw the soldiers remove around 30 men from one cell the night before the massacre. [5]
The Malian government denied any involvement in the massacre, and claimed that mentions of it were "defaming" the government. [6] On March 17, the government banned Radio France Internationale and France 24 for claiming the massacre was perpetrated by the Malian army and Wagner group. [7]
Al-Qaeda-linked Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin claimed responsibility for an attack in Mondoro, stating it was in retribution for the massacre at Danguèrè Wotoro. [8]
Human Rights Watch, MINUSMA, and the locals all accused the Malian Army and Wagner for the attack, with HRW giving a death toll of 35 and RFI claiming 35 to 37 people were killed. [4] [5]