A total of 25 ethnic Fulani are believed to have been killed by the Malian army and members of the Russian paramilitary group Wagner. Several local sources reported this to “Radio France Internationale” (RFI).
Accordingly, the execution took place on January 26 in the village of Welingara, which lies on the border with Mauritania and is also known as Wuro Ferro in the Fulfulde language. The Fulbe are an originally nomadic pastoral people in West Africa, who now live a predominantly sedentary life.
Children were also among the victims
According to reports, the army and Wagner, renamed the Afrika Korps, entered the village early in the morning, arrested 25 men and boys and took them two kilometers away. Their bodies were found there. According to reports, they were brutally murdered. All victims, including children, were identified as ethnic Fulani. In addition to these executions, local sources report, according to RFI, that approximately twenty people were arrested in a ‘raid’ in December and whose families can no longer be found.
The Malian military has not made any announcement about this operation and has not responded to requests, RFI said.
Not the first time
According to French media, this is not the first time that the army and Wagner troops have killed people. In late January, decapitated bodies were found in a camp near Tessalit in the Kidal region of northern Mali. According to several local sources, some close to the rebels, the three bodies found were gold miners. According to RFI, the sources interviewed accused Russian mercenaries of the Wagner group. RFI received no official word from the military.
Residents of the region told RFI that the military operations and executions were not intended to protect the population, but were seen by them as reprisals, mainly involving unarmed civilians.
They fear it could be a military response to attacks carried out late last year by an Al Qaeda-linked jihadist group. Malian soldiers died.
Used sources:
Soource :Watson
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
