Malian refugees in Mauritania: fragile hopes and enduring fears

In Mauritania, where countless individuals have sought refuge from the brutal conflict tearing apart their homeland, Mali, a palpable hope for repatriation emerges. “If the Russian mercenaries withdraw, we will return home,” asserts Mosso*, reflecting a sentiment shared by many. This fragile optimism follows significant late April assaults on the Malian army and its Russian partners, the Africa Corps. Coordinated by the Front de libération de l’Azawad (FLA) separatists and the Groupe de soutien à l’islam et aux musulmans (Jnim), an Al-Qaïda affiliate, these attacks dealt a severe blow to Mali’s ruling junta, which seized power in a 2020 coup, even claiming the life of the Defense Minister.

The presence of Russian paramilitaries has left an indelible mark of suffering on many Malian refugees in the Mauritanian border town of Fassala. Locals still refer to them as “Wagner,” recalling the private Russian militia, now rebranded as “Africa Corps,” which has been supporting the Malian army in its counter-jihadist operations since French forces departed.

Goïta held responsible for Russian presence

Under the makeshift shelter of a tent, seeking respite from the scorching Sahelian desert heat, Mosso expresses his fervent hope for the “downfall of (Assimi) Goïta,” Mali’s junta leader. “It was he who brought Wagner to our land,” he declares. The 57-year-old nomadic Tuareg herder, with his distinctive long white beard, fled the Mopti region in central Mali just three weeks prior after white men, whom he identified as Russian paramilitaries, raided his encampment and abducted several men. A year ago, his own brother was tragically killed by Russians, witnessed by his then 14-year-old son.

Across Mali, civilians frequently endure brutal reprisals and abuses, often accused of collaborating with opposing factions. These acts are perpetrated by both the Malian army and its Russian auxiliaries, as well as by jihadist groups. On April 20, three civil society organizations, including the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), lodged a formal complaint with the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR), detailing alleged violations committed in Mali involving the Malian armed forces and the Wagner group.

Footage circulating of a Russian convoy departing Kidal, a strategically vital city in northern Mali that fell under Tuareg rebel control in late April, has ignited a cautious glimmer of hope among many refugees that these paramilitaries might soon exit their nation. Similar to Mosso, approximately 300,000 Malians have sought sanctuary in Mauritania’s Hodh Chargui region since the conflict first erupted in 2012.

FLA and Jnim alliance raises concerns

Roughly fifty kilometers from the border, the Mbera camp currently shelters 120,000 refugees, all of whom have fled the widespread violence inflicted by various belligerents: jihadists, the Malian army, Russian mercenaries, and community militias. Amidst the camp’s sandy pathways, Ahmed*, 35, expresses his longing for “the return of peace and to go back to my country.” He, too, desires the overthrow of the military regime, which he believes “brought all the problems to the country.” This Tuareg refugee asserts, “Everyone came here because of Wagner,” explaining his flight from the “conflation” made by the Malian army and its Russian auxiliaries.

With an amiable gaze and skin weathered by the sun, Abdallah*, a 77-year-old Tuareg refugee, does not share the jubilation over the recent rebel offensive. “I am far from pleased that the FLA has retaken Kidal,” he confides. He views the alliance between the FLA and jihadists as a grave misstep, stating, “For me, Jnim is a terrorist movement. Their objectives are entirely incompatible with our ideology as moderate, peaceful Muslims.”

Since last October, blockades enforced by Jnim jihadists on various Malian localities have triggered a fresh surge of refugees into the region. This new wave comprises nearly 14,000 individuals, predominantly women and children, as reported by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (HCR).

New refugee influx feared

The recent intensification of hostilities in Mali has sparked grave concerns among humanitarian organizations regarding a potential new wave of refugees. This is particularly alarming for the already resource-scarce desert region of Mauritania. “We are monitoring the evolving situation with intense vigilance and profound apprehension,” states Omar Doukali, the HCR spokesperson in Mauritania.

While the Sahel has emerged as a global epicenter of jihadist violence, Mauritania, a vast desert nation of 5.5 million people, stands out for its remarkable stability. However, the presence of over 300,000 Malian refugees is exerting considerable pressure. Cheikhna Ould Abdallahi, the mayor of Fassala, a commune hosting 70,000 refugees, highlights the strain “on pastures, water resources, and all basic services, including healthcare,” expressing deep concern over the escalating fighting in neighboring Mali.

The situation remains profoundly uncertain. The FLA has declared its ambition to seize major cities in northern Mali and forecasts the downfall of the ruling junta amidst its ongoing offensive. Tilleli*, a 22-year-old mother, cradling her one-year-old daughter, recounts her escape from Mali a month ago when Russian forces and the army looted and torched her village in the central Mopti region. “I can only return home once Wagner leaves my country,” she insists. With a sigh, the young mother adds, “I have no hope that peace will arrive anytime soon.”