Mali: Civilians mistakenly arrested, others killed for being 'jihadists'

The Malian army has been accused for mistakenly killing members of an ethnic group they considered to be Jihadists fighters according to a human rights association.

A number of Peul community located in Central Mali who have been accused for being Jihadists have also been arrested and jailed according to Kawral poulakou association

“Sometimes all the Peuls are taken for jihadists, but it is false. Do not confuse who we are. We are proud to be Malians and we are also proud to be Fulani,” said one member

The association further claimed that more than 15 civilians from the same community have been killed in the past few weeks.

On the other hand, a military source told AFP that they cannot confirm such arbitration and that they respect the fundamental human rights.

“On the cases of mass killings of Peul civilians, I might have no clear response but I insist that our army is respectful to the fundamental human rights. Therefore, I do not confirm these killings,” a military source told AFP.

President of #Mali #HumanRights Commission said, “there will be no lasting peace without respect for human rights.” pic.twitter.com/34gt9EUNMk

— Sarah Sewall (@civsecatstate) April 15, 2016

Islamist violence is on the rise across West Africa despite a 2013 French-led military intervention that sought to drive militants out of northern Mali, which they had seized a year earlier.

AFP