标签： Africa

DOUANKARA, Mauritania — A systematic campaign of human rights violations is being carried out in Mali by Russia’s Africa Corps, the military unit that replaced the Wagner mercenary group, according to extensive testimony from dozens of refugees who have fled to neighboring Mauritania.

In exclusive interviews with The Associated Press, 34 civilians described a reign of terror implemented by the Africa Corps in collaboration with Malian military forces. The accounts include indiscriminate killings, sexual violence, beheadings, and the harvesting of organs from victims—tactics previously associated with Wagner operations in the region.

“They implement a scorched-earth policy without discrimination,” stated a Malian village chief who escaped the violence. “The soldiers communicate with no one. Any individual they encounter is immediately shot—no inquiries, no warnings. People remain completely unaware of why they are being executed.”

The Sahel region of West Africa has emerged as the global epicenter of extremist violence, with thousands killed in ongoing conflicts. Military governments in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger have pivoted from Western alliances to Russian security partnerships in their fight against al-Qaeda and Islamic State affiliates.

When Africa Corps formally replaced Wagner six months ago, exhausted civilians anticipated reduced brutality. Instead, refugees report intensified operations characterized by extreme violence. Multiple witnesses provided video evidence of villages systematically burned by what they described as “white men” speaking Russian.

One particularly disturbing account came from Mougaloa, a herder from northern Mali, who described watching masked men slit her son’s throat after Malian soldiers beat him unconscious. In a subsequent incident, the armed men abducted her daughter Fatma while using the Russian derogatory term “pes” (dog) to refer to locals.

Legal experts emphasize that the transition from Wagner to Africa Corps creates direct accountability for the Russian government. “Despite the rebranding, there is striking continuity in personnel, commanders, tactics and even insignia,” noted Lindsay Freeman, senior director of international accountability at UC Berkeley’s Human Rights Center.

The situation is compounded by reduced international oversight. The United Nations peacekeeping mission withdrew from Mali in 2023 under government pressure, and Mali’s departure from the International Criminal Court this year has further complicated accountability mechanisms.

Eduardo Gonzalez Cueva, a U.N. independent expert on human rights in Mali, reported that military authorities have ignored his requests for access and questionnaires, considering investigations into alleged abuses “inconvenient and harmful to the morale of the troops.”

Refugees consistently report that the change from Wagner to Africa Corps represents merely a name change rather than any substantive improvement. “The clothing, the vehicles, the personnel remained identical,” stated Bocar, a refugee who returned home only to flee again. “The methodologies persisted, and actually intensified.”

The psychological toll on survivors is profound. Fatma, another refugee who lost multiple family members, described her existence as merely physical: “I am just someone who is alive and appears as a person that I was—but is not, in fact, living.”

A remarkable orbital photograph showcasing Islam’s holiest site from approximately 400 kilometers above Earth has captivated global audiences. NASA astronaut Donald Pettit, renowned for sharing extraordinary imagery from space, recently published a breathtaking view of Makkah, Saudi Arabia, from the International Space Station (ISS).

The image, captured earlier this week and shared via social media platform X, reveals the Masjid Al Haram complex as a radiant point of light against the darkness of the Arabian Peninsula. At the center of this luminous display shines the Kaaba, Islam’s most sacred structure, visibly discernible even from orbital altitude.

Pettit accompanied the photograph with explanatory commentary: “Orbital views of Makkah, Saudi Arabia. The bright spot in the center is the Kaaba, Islam’s holiest site, visible even from space.” The image was taken from the ISS, which serves as both research facility and residence for international astronauts continuously orbiting our planet.

The photograph has achieved viral status across multiple digital platforms, accumulating millions of engagements through likes, shares, and views. Social media commentators have expressed profound admiration for the image’s spiritual and aesthetic significance, with one observer noting, “This glow is the most beautiful glow.”

This celestial perspective provides not only a stunning visual document but also symbolizes the intersection of space exploration, religious reverence, and technological achievement. Pettit continues his tradition of sharing unique orbital photography that offers humanity new ways to contemplate familiar landmarks from unprecedented vantage points.

In a devastating pre-dawn assault that has reignited concerns about South Africa’s pervasive violent crime epidemic, armed assailants stormed an informal drinking establishment in Pretoria on Saturday, executing a brutal shooting that left 11 people dead, including a three-year-old child and two teenagers.

The horrific incident unfolded around 4:30 AM local time (0230 GMT) at an unlicensed tavern operating within a hostel complex in Saulsville township, approximately 18 kilometers west of South Africa’s administrative capital. According to police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe, three unidentified gunmen entered the premises and opened indiscriminate fire on a group of patrons, striking 25 individuals in total.

Tragically, ten victims perished at the scene while another succumbed to injuries after being transported to medical facilities. Among the deceased were a 12-year-old boy and a 16-year-old girl, highlighting the indiscriminate nature of the violence that has become increasingly common in establishments illegally selling alcohol.

Authorities confirmed that the attack represents the latest in a disturbing pattern of mass shootings plaguing the nation of 63 million people. South Africa maintains one of the world’s highest homicide rates, with official statistics indicating approximately 63 daily murders between April and September this year. The country’s struggle with entrenched criminal networks, widespread illegal firearms, and alcohol-fueled violence has created a persistent public safety crisis.

Police spokeswoman Mathe emphasized the particular danger posed by unlicensed liquor establishments, noting that ‘most mass shootings occur’ in such venues where ‘innocent people also get caught up in the crossfire.’ The timing of the attack—occurring nearly 90 minutes before authorities were alerted—further complicated emergency response efforts.

As investigators continue searching for motives and suspects, this tragedy echoes several recent mass shooting incidents across South Africa, including October’s gang-related violence in Johannesburg that killed two teenagers and May’s tavern shooting in Durban that claimed eight lives. The ongoing manhunt for the perpetrators continues while the nation confronts its deep-rooted challenges with organized crime and violence prevention.