Mali denies UN allegation of human right abuses

Mali has denied allegations in a UN report that its national army (FAMA) carried out human rights violations.

A report released last week by the country’s UN mission, Minusma, highlighted alleged gross rights abuses by the Malian army between January and March this year.

In its quarterly report it attributed to FAMA an visible rise in abuses, including summary executions and forced disappearances.

Foreign affairs ministry in a memo on Wednesday Mali’s offered detailed rebuttals to various parts of the UN report.

The ministry said the allegations were intended to damage the image of the defence and security forces and to discredit the population and the international community.

Mali has been at loggerheads with rights agencies over rising reports of abuses by FAMA and mercenaries from Russia’s Wagner paramilitary firm.