The Malian army on Tuesday night denied accusations that it committed atrocities against civilians during its “large-scale air-land opportunity operation” in the central village of Moura.
Officially, more than 200 jihadists were killed and about 50 arrested in the operation, which took place between March 23 and 31 in the village of Moura. However, organizations, such as Human Rights Watch denounced a “massacre” by the Malian army, which allegedly carried out disproportionate and indiscriminate actions that resulted in the death of several civilians.
However, it said Malian soldiers “intervened in Moura not to kill civilians,” but as part of their duties to defend the integrity of the national territory and protect people and property.
“It is thanks to very precise and validated information that the FAMas (Malian Armed Forces) were led to intervene in the locality of Moura where a large and very important meeting of the leaders of the Macina katiba was being held, with the aim of planning attacks against FAMas installations, as well as continuing to put pressure on the civilian population,” explained General Oumar Diarra, Chief of General Staff of the Malian Armed Forces, on national television, who also deplores losses in their ranks.
“As soon as our forces arrived on the scene, they were attacked by the terrorists who were meeting. This was followed by fierce fighting during which we also deplore deaths and injuries,” he said, dismissing accusations by the media and international organizations.
“The Malian army is multi-ethnic and cannot afford to carry out such actions, and is responsible for all these allegations made against it today,” General Oumar Diarra added.
ODL/te/fss/abj/APA