At least 22 men in military custody were reportedly executed in Diafarabé, central Mali, on May 12, 2025. Witnesses discovered their bodies in shallow graves three days later.
Human Rights Watch has urged Mali’s government to conduct a credible investigation into the incident. Local sources say the victims were ethnic Fulani men, aged 32 to 67.
On May 16, the Malian armed forces announced a gendarmerie investigation into the disappearance of civilians and dispatched a military team to gather testimonies. However, concerns remain over whether the inquiry will be independent.
“The killing of at least 22 men in military custody puts a burden on Malian authorities to demonstrate that its investigation is credible and to make public its findings,” said Ilaria Allegrozzi, senior Sahel researcher at Human Rights Watch.
Witness Accounts Detail the Executions
According to witness testimonies, soldiers entered a local cattle market, arrested the traders, and took them to the Niger River. The victims were bound, blindfolded, and transported across the river in a canoe.
“Armed soldiers wearing Malian military uniforms entered the market on foot and started arresting Fulani traders,” said a 53-year-old trader. “They tied their hands behind their back before taking them to the river and blindfolded them.”
The following day, women protested outside the military base, demanding information. On May 15, the military escorted residents to the site where the victims were taken.
Harrowing Discovery in Mass Graves
The delegation found the bodies in two shallow graves, their throats slit.
“All the men had their throats slashed, some appeared almost decapitated. It was so horrible that even a military commander had to sit down not to faint,” said a man whose father was among those killed.
A survivor described escaping the killings.
“Soldiers used our scarves to cover our eyes, but I could see what was going on. They took people in small groups and slit their throats. I heard loud screaming,” he recalled.
He ran when soldiers approached him, narrowly escaping as bullets flew.
Residents believe soldiers targeted Fulani men, accusing them of links to Islamist groups operating in the Mopti region.
Human Rights Watch has documented past human rights abuses by Malian security forces, including unlawful killings and enforced disappearances.
Authorities have yet to respond to findings shared by Human Rights Watch.
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