Latest news with #TabitalPulaaku
TimesLIVE
16-05-2025
- TimesLIVE
Security forces kidnap, kill civilians in central Mali, says activist
Malian armed forces arrested and killed around two dozen Fulani civilians who were rounded up at a livestock market in a central region of the West African country, a local activist told Reuters. Women in the town of Diafarabe, where the incident took place, led a rare public protest on Wednesday over their disappearance. "A survivor who managed to flee from Diafarabe alerted and said that they killed them, executed some of them, slit their throats and buried them in a mass grave," the activist said. The activist, who could not be named for safety reasons, is close to Tabital Pulaaku, an international association that represents the Fulani people. The incident took place on Monday in a rural area on the banks of the Niger River, the activist said. The men were loaded onto a canoe and taken to an island cemetery, where they were killed. Mali's armed forces did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Thursday.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Security forces kidnap, kill civilians in central Mali
BAMAKO (Reuters) - Malian armed forces arrested and killed around two dozen Fulani civilians who were rounded up at a livestock market in a central region of the West African country, a local activist told Reuters. Women in the town of Diafarabe, where the incident took place, led a rare public protest on Wednesday over their disappearance. "A survivor who managed to flee from Diafarabe alerted and said that they killed them, executed some of them, slit their throats and buried them in a mass grave," the activist said. The activist, who could not be named for safety reasons, is close to Tabital Pulaaku, an international association that represents the Fulani people. The incident took place on Monday in a rural area on the banks of the Niger river, the activist said. The men were loaded onto a canoe and taken to an island cemetery, where they were killed. Mali's armed forces did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Thursday. The armed forces are backed by Russian mercenaries, previously known as Wagner and now Africa Corps, who could not be reached for comment. Human Rights Watch has accused both groups of committing atrocities and serious abuses against civilians. The U.N. last month called for an investigation after decomposing bodies were found on the outskirts of a military camp in the southwestern Koulikoro region of Mali. The country's military government, which seized power following coups in 2020 and 2021, has expelled French and other Western forces and turned to Russia for military support. Public frustration with the ruling junta is growing over the postponement of elections and a crackdown on political freedom. Hundreds of people gathered this month to call for multi-party elections, chanting slogans like "down with dictatorship, long live democracy". The protests followed a national council recommendation to grant leader Assimi Goita a new five-year mandate and dissolve all political parties.
Straits Times
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Security forces kidnap, kill civilians in central Mali
BAMAKO - Malian armed forces arrested and killed around two dozen Fulani civilians who were rounded up at a livestock market in a central region of the West African country, a local activist told Reuters. Women in the town of Diafarabe, where the incident took place, led a rare public protest on Wednesday over their disappearance. "A survivor who managed to flee from Diafarabe alerted and said that they killed them, executed some of them, slit their throats and buried them in a mass grave," the activist said. The activist, who could not be named for safety reasons, is close to Tabital Pulaaku, an international association that represents the Fulani people. The incident took place on Monday in a rural area on the banks of the Niger river, the activist said. The men were loaded onto a canoe and taken to an island cemetery, where they were killed. Mali's armed forces did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Thursday. The armed forces are backed by Russian mercenaries, previously known as Wagner and now Africa Corps, who could not be reached for comment. Human Rights Watch has accused both groups of committing atrocities and serious abuses against civilians. The U.N. last month called for an investigation after decomposing bodies were found on the outskirts of a military camp in the southwestern Koulikoro region of Mali. The country's military government, which seized power following coups in 2020 and 2021, has expelled French and other Western forces and turned to Russia for military support. Public frustration with the ruling junta is growing over the postponement of elections and a crackdown on political freedom. Hundreds of people gathered this month to call for multi-party elections, chanting slogans like "down with dictatorship, long live democracy". The protests followed a national council recommendation to grant leader Assimi Goita a new five-year mandate and dissolve all political parties. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Reuters
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
Security forces kidnap, kill civilians in central Mali
BAMAKO, May 15 (Reuters) - Malian armed forces arrested and killed around two dozen Fulani civilians who were rounded up at a livestock market in a central region of the West African country, a local activist told Reuters. Women in the town of Diafarabe, where the incident took place, led a rare public protest on Wednesday over their disappearance. "A survivor who managed to flee from Diafarabe alerted and said that they killed them, executed some of them, slit their throats and buried them in a mass grave," the activist said. The activist, who could not be named for safety reasons, is close to Tabital Pulaaku, an international association that represents the Fulani people. The incident took place on Monday in a rural area on the banks of the Niger river, the activist said. The men were loaded onto a canoe and taken to an island cemetery, where they were killed. Mali's armed forces did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Thursday. The armed forces are backed by Russian mercenaries, previously known as Wagner and now Africa Corps, who could not be reached for comment. Human Rights Watch has accused both groups of committing atrocities and serious abuses against civilians. The U.N. last month called for an investigation after decomposing bodies were found on the outskirts of a military camp in the southwestern Koulikoro region of Mali. The country's military government, which seized power following coups in 2020 and 2021, has expelled French and other Western forces and turned to Russia for military support. Public frustration with the ruling junta is growing over the postponement of elections and a crackdown on political freedom. Hundreds of people gathered this month to call for multi-party elections, chanting slogans like "down with dictatorship, long live democracy". The protests followed a national council recommendation to grant leader Assimi Goita a new five-year mandate and dissolve all political parties.
TimesLIVE
02-05-2025
- Politics
- TimesLIVE
UN experts urge probe of reported executions, disappearances in Mali
United Nations experts on Wednesday called on Mali to investigate reports of summary executions and enforced disappearances after several dozen bodies were found outside a military camp earlier this month. The executions, if confirmed, could amount to war crimes while the disappearances could constitute crimes against humanity, the experts said in a statement expressing "outrage" at the reports. Last week, "several dozen decomposing bodies" were found on the outskirts of the Kwala military camp in Mali's southwestern Koulikoro region, the statement said. "We urge Malian authorities to conduct prompt, effective, thorough, independent, impartial and transparent investigations into these killings and enforced disappearances, in accordance with international law," it said. Spokespeople for Mali's military and defence ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Wednesday. According to a document provided to Reuters by the ethnic Fulani association Tabital Pulaaku, the bodies found at the military camp were believed to be those of people arrested on April 12 in the village of Sebabougou, located in the western Kayes region. Mali's armed forces carried out the arrests, Tabital Pulaaku said. While some were released after questioning, more than 60 people, almost all ethnic Fulani, have been missing since the operation, it said. Citing "unconfirmed reports", the UN experts said some of those arrested in Sebabougou were transported to the Kwala camp, where they were interrogated and tortured before being taken out of the camp and executed by opening fire. Reuters has not been able to independently verify that account. Mali's military government, which seized power following coups in 2020 and 2021, has kicked out French and other Western forces and turned towards Russia, mainly fighters from the Wagner mercenary outfit, for military support. Mali's armed forces said in a statement on Monday that they had conducted military operations targeting those they called "terrorist armed groups" between April 11 and 15 in several areas, including Sebabougou and Kwala.
