DAKAR, (Reuters) – More than 500 civilians were killed by attacks perpetrated in Mali between January and March 2015 by armed groups or Islamist group. This was according to the United Nations’ Monday report. It detailed a swift unravelling in an already dire security environment.

This quarter saw a 324% increase in killings and it highlighted Mali’s failure to stop human rights abuses and groups associated with al Qaeda or Islamic State from launching violence campaigns.

The attack comes as Mali ends ties with France as a former colonial force and the Wagner Group is stepped in as a Russian private military contractor to defeat militants responsible for attacks on the center and north over the past ten years.

The Mali military took control in 2020 by a coup. They did not reply to our requests for comment. Wagner Group couldn’t be reached.

The report stated that the Malian Mission to the United Nations, MINUSMA said “Malian Armed Forces supported at times by foreign military forces increased military operations in combating terrorism… some which often ended in grave allegations of violations human rights.”

Wagner was strongly opposed by the West, who warned that his intervention could spark violence in Mali, and neighboring countries, where there is growing poverty, malnutrition, and drought.

MINUSMA reported 320 human rights violations committed by Malian military personnel in the period January-March, compared with 31 for the preceding three months.

One of the most striking cases was at Moura. Witnesses and rights groups claim that white fighters and the Malian Army killed scores of civilians who they believed to be militants.

“In addition, there were summary executions,” MINUSMA stated.

MINUSMA, which is currently conducting an investigation in the town, has been denied access. MINUSMA indicated that it will not be granted access to the town until the government has completed its investigation.

Violence has plagued Mali since the 2012 jihadist takeover of the north. France defeated them but in 2015, they had regrouped and started a new wave of attacks at the centre. Concerns have been raised about instability in the region as they now appear to be expanding into Niger, Burkina Faso and Niger.