Human Rights Watch has called on the African Union Peace and Security Council to intensify scrutiny of Mali’s conflict parties after documenting alleged abuses against civilians and captured soldiers by government-aligned and insurgent forces.

In a report published October 19, the rights group said Malian forces and the Russia-controlled Africa Corps had killed and wounded civilians in attacks and in custody during counterinsurgency operations in central and northern Mali. It also said Islamist and separatist fighters tortured and executed captured Malian troops. HRW said it remotely interviewed 30 people between July 30 and September 20, verified and geolocated two videos, and reviewed photographs and other videos. Read HRW’s findings and methodology.

The organization documented two apparently indiscriminate drone strikes it attributed to the Malian military: one on July 29 that partially destroyed a health facility in Talahandak, Kidal region, and another on August 19 that struck a market in Tombonkore, Bandiagara region, killing six civilians and injuring at least 20. It also alleged that Malian soldiers killed five girls in Ségou region on July 12, while an allied Dozo militia killed three civilians in Mopti region on July 27 and 28.

HRW said a July 18 attack on a military and Africa Corps convoy in Gao region ended with the torture and execution of at least 19 Malian troops who had been taken prisoner. JNIM acknowledged that captives were killed but said it had not ordered the killings; the Azawad Liberation Front acknowledged fighting that day but rejected allegations that its forces carried out executions.

Mali has faced fighting and attacks involving state forces, Islamist armed groups, separatists and criminal groups since 2012, Al Jazeera reported. The outlet also reported that HRW cited conflict-data group ACLED as recording 49 air strikes by Malian forces and Africa Corps between April and August that killed 89 civilians.

HRW said it had sent its findings and questions to Mali’s defence minister on August 5 but had received no response.