Dozens of bodies have been discovered near a military camp in western Mali’s Koulikoro region, sources confirmed Thursday.
The bodies were found near the camp in Kwala, and their advanced state of decomposition makes identification difficult. Locals searching for loved ones who were arrested by the Malian army and Wagner paramilitaries on April 12 made the grim discovery.
The exact number of bodies and their identities remain uncertain, but the find has heightened anxiety among families of those arrested. The region has seen clashes between the Malian army and extremist groups, including al-Qaeda-affiliated JNIM.
The Malian army and Wagner forces have been operating in the region, and rights groups have raised concerns about abuses and extrajudicial killings. An investigation is needed to determine the circumstances surrounding the deaths.