The Shocking Revelations of Torture by Wagner Mercenaries in Mali
Brutal Reports of Alleged Torture of Hundreds of Civilians by Wagner Mercenaries in Mali Surface
In an explosive international investigation, it has been alleged that the Russian mercenary group, Wagner, has been involved in the kidnapping, detention, and brutal torture of hundreds of innocent civilians in Mali. The investigation, led by the journalist network Forbidden Stories, identified six locations in Mali where the Wagner Group held civilians over a two-year period, including former UN bases. The investigation involved three international news outlets, including "Le Monde."
The Wagner Group's activities have been under scrutiny for quite some time due to their cruel methods of operation. Witness accounts from Malian refugees in neighboring Mauritania paint a grim picture of waterboarding, beatings, and even cigarette burns inflicted upon the victims.
In a twist of events, it was recently reported that Wagner Group is officially leaving Mali after over three years. However, their units will be integrated into a Russian successor organization. It is also reported that several victims lost their lives during these illegal detentions and systematic torture, with methods reminiscent of those used in Ukraine.
Mali, under the leadership of General Assimi Goita since two coups in 2020 and 2021, has been shifting its allegiance from France to Russia. In its fight against jihadist groups, the military junta has sought help from Wagner Group for the past three and a half years. Although Mali never officially acknowledged the presence of Wagner mercenaries, they were always referred to as Russian trainers.
The UN has accused the Malian army and "foreign" fighters of killing at least 500 people in a Mar busy operation against jihadists. The junta in Mali denied these allegations, but Western countries claim the fighters were Wagner mercenaries. Additionally, diplomatic sources in the Sahel region suggest that the Wagner mercenaries in Mali will be integrated into the African Corps, under the control of the Moscow Defense Ministry, much like Wagner's mercenaries support several African governments.
Key Timeline
- Late 2021: Wagner Group mercenaries arrive in Mali.
- 2021–2024: Civilians are allegedly abducted, detained, and tortured in secret prisons at military bases.
- August 2024: Survivors describe being subjected to waterboarding and beatings over several nights.
- 2025: Investigations by international media reveal hundreds of documented cases of torture and disappearances.
Despicable Tactics
- Secret Detention Facilities: Civilians were held in undisclosed locations, out of public and international oversight.
- Torture Techniques: Methods reported include waterboarding (forced head submersion), beatings with batons, psychological torture, and physical abuse.
- Forced Disappearances: Many detainees were reportedly abducted and never officially registered as prisoners, making their whereabouts unknown to families and legal authorities.
The African Corps
Following the reorganization of Wagner Group after the death of its leader Yevgeny Prigozhin in 2023, Russian paramilitary operations in Africa have seen a shift toward more centralized control, with the group’s activities reportedly being absorbed under the umbrella of the “African Corps”—a rebranded initiative designed to formalize Russian security presence on the continent. It is suspected that abusive practices such as torture and forced disappearances may persist under this new structure.
The Wagner Group, a political mercenary group, has been embroiled in war-and-conflicts and crime-and-justice issues, with their activities in Mali leading to allegations of kidnapping, detention, torture, and even murder of hundreds of civilians over the past few years. These activities, which involve despicable tactics such as secret detention facilities, torture techniques reminiscent of waterboarding and beatings, and forced disappearances, have been the subject of numerous investigations in general-news and political reports.
