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Amnesty International Raises Alarm on Moura Massacre in Mali, Officially Notifies International Criminal Court

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Israel Ojoko
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Amnesty International has sounded the alarm, drawing attention to the horrific Moura massacre in Mali.

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Samira Daoud, Regional Director for West and Central Africa at Amnesty International highlighted that this incident stands as the deadliest attack on civilians since the beginning of the conflict in Mali in 2012. In response, the organization has officially notified the International Criminal Court (ICC) about the massacre.

Last Friday, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) released a report that accused the Malian armed forces and foreign soldiers of perpetrating the killings. The report revealed that over 500 people, the majority of whom were summarily executed, lost their lives during a five-day military operation in the village of Moura in the central Mali region of Mopti, which occurred in March 2022.

Emphasizing the gravity of the situation, Samira Daoud stressed the urgent need to prosecute and bring the perpetrators of the Moura massacre to trial before a competent court. The prevailing impunity in Mali and the ongoing violence against civilian populations, particularly in the central region, have raised serious concerns.

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UN report reveals war crimes in Moura massacre A UN human rights report has revealed that more than 500 people were killed by Malian troops and foreign military personnel during a five-day operation in the village of Moura in central Mali in March 2022. The report, based on interviews with witnesses and survivors, said that most of the victims were summarily executed, while some were raped or tortured. The report also said that the Malian authorities had denied access to the UN fact-finding team to the village of Moura itself. The Malian authorities had described the operation as an anti-terrorist military campaign against an al-Qaeda-affiliated group known as Katiba Macina, which had been operating in the Mopti region of central Mali since 2015. The group had imposed a strict version of Sharia law on the local population and carried out attacks on security forces and civilians.

Upholding International Humanitarian Law and Condemning Crimes

Amidst the deeply troubling events in Mali, Amnesty International condemns the prevailing impunity and urges all parties involved in the conflict to uphold international humanitarian law. The responsibility lies with the warring parties, including the Malian army, its allies, and armed groups, to respect the rights of civilians and abide by the principles of humanity. Acts targeting civilians, such as extrajudicial executions, rape, and other forms of sexual violence, are absolutely prohibited and demand immediate attention and action.

The call for justice echoes the cries of the affected communities in Mali. The people of Moura and countless others who have suffered from the violence deserve answers, accountability, and redress. It is imperative that the international community, through organizations like the ICC, support the pursuit of justice and contribute to ending the cycle of violence and impunity that has plagued the region.

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