The Group for Support of Islam and Muslims (GSIM), an Al-Qaeda-affiliated organization, has issued a statement accusing the Russian paramilitary group Wagner of committing massacres against civilians in southern Mali. The villages of Tandoko were the site of horrific acts, according to GSIM, which reports a tragic toll of 20 deaths, dozens injured, and several individuals arrested.
In a statement released on Thursday, August 17, and widely shared on social media, the Group for Support of Islam and Muslims (GSIM), an Al-Qaeda-affiliated organization, made serious accusations against the Russian paramilitary group Wagner. According to GSIM, gruesome massacres have been perpetrated in recent days by Wagner’s mercenaries in several villages near Tandoko, located in the Banamba Circle in the Koulikoro region of southern Mali.
The statement names the affected villages, including Jangoy, Kolongon, Kouwanta, Karbajee, Dikoni, and Semina. GSIM describes scenes of ruthless violence, where unarmed civilians were reportedly targeted without discrimination. The human toll is tragically heavy, with at least 20 deaths and numerous injured individuals, in addition to over twenty people arrested.
In its statement, GSIM also mentions the presumed motivations behind these acts of violence, attributing them to a “government of renegades” and its mercenary allies. According to the organization, these massacres would serve a project aimed at exterminating populations in the region, raising deep concerns about the already precarious humanitarian situation in southern Mali.
As of now, neither the Russian paramilitary group Wagner nor the Malian government have responded to the accusations made by GSIM. Russian authorities might be compelled to address these allegations, which could have repercussions on the paramilitary group’s international reputation. Similarly, Malian authorities could face increasing pressure to investigate these allegations and take necessary actions to ensure the safety of civilians in the Koulikoro region.
