Dozens of Fulani men have either vanished or been executed in Mali, according to a new report released Tuesday by Human Rights Watch (HRW).
The rights group accuses Mali’s armed forces and the Russian Wagner Group of serious abuses, including the forced disappearance of at least 81 Fulani men and the execution of at least a dozen others since January 2025.
These incidents reportedly took place during joint military operations targeting Islamist militants.HRW notes that Islamist groups often try to recruit Fulani men, which has increasingly made the entire Fulani community a target for government forces.
The Wagner Group, a Russian paramilitary force not officially recognized by the Russian government, has been working alongside Mali’s military for the past few years. The group has previously faced accusations of human rights abuses in other countries.
In its report, Human Rights Watch urged the African Union to demand that Mali’s military leadership investigate these allegations and hold those responsible accountable.
