New, very serious, accusations were leveled against the Armed Forces of Mali (Fama) and their auxiliaries of the group Wagner, who last Sunday in the municipality of Fakala, near Sofara in the Mopti region in central Mali, allegedly committed group sexual violence about the women of the village. This was reported by the French-speaking media, citing local sources and eyewitnesses contacted directly.
The armed forces, their auxiliaries and Dozo militias would arrive at the village of Tandiama at 5 am on Sunday, only arresting two people, notables of the village. They then headed to Nia-Ouro, a very nearby village already the scene of abuses by the armed forces last January, accusations that have always been rejected by the Malian Army General Staff which claims to have carried out counter-terrorism operations. According to RFI, when the military convoy arrived in the village, the men would all have fled to hide in the bush.
Only women, children and the elderly are left in the village. According to the reconstruction of Rfi, the Dozo took position at the health center, while the Fama and the mercenaries of the Wagner group occupied a school instead. The inhabitants were then ordered to return home. The homes would be inspected by mercenaries, who ordered women to undress to photograph, touch them and, in some cases, even force them to have intercourse.
According to the AFP, these violence was accompanied by looting: gold, silver, furniture and even livestock were stolen, many residents arrested.
It is not the first time that the Fama and its auxiliaries have been accused of violence of this type: in March, during a vast counter-terrorism operation in Moura a few hours after the beginning of Ramadan, several accusations were leveled at the military and mercenaries. always rejected. However, the Malian army has opened an investigation into Moura’s events, the results of which, however, have never been disclosed.
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