The United Nations has expressed concern over serious allegations of summary executions since the start of the French war in Mali.

UN anti-genocide envoy Adama Dieng said in a statement the allegations included summary killings and disappearances in Sevare, Mopti, Niono, and other towns close to the areas where the war was occurring.

Adama Dieng added that there were also reports of mob lynching and looting of properties belonging to Arab and Tuareg communities.

“I am deeply concerned at the risk of reprisal attacks against ethnic Tuareg and Arab civilians," Dieng said.

"Targeting of ethnic or religious groups in an armed conflict, and if such abuses are carried out in a widespread and systematic way, could constitute atrocity crimes."

Dieng made the remarks ahead of a planned visit to Mali by France's President Francois Hollande as the French war in Mali enters its fourth week.

The French president is due to arrive in Bamako on Saturday to meet interim President Dioncounda Traore.

Amnesty International said in a statement on Friday that it had found evidence during a ten-day-long investigation in Mali that several cases of atrocities had been committed in the country since January 11, when France launched the war under the pretext of halting the advance of fighters.

“There is evidence that at least five civilians, including three children, were killed in an airstrike” carried out by French forces against the local fighters, Amnesty said.


The organization also said the Malian army had committed “serious human rights breaches plus violations of international humanitarian law (IHL)” including “extrajudicial executions of civilians.”


Battalions of troops from Niger and Togo have arrived in the Malian city of Gao to reinforce the French war. The city was controlled by anti-government fighters for nearly 10 months, but was seized by the French military last week.

The UN Security Council is considering plans to deploy peacekeepers to assist the French forces.

Analysts believe that behind the military campaign are Mali’s untapped resources, including oil, gold, as well as the uranium in the region.