Separatist Tuareg, Islamist armed groups and Arab militias who seized control of northern Mali in April 2012, "in recent weeks have terrorized civilians by committing abductions and looting hospitals,” Corinne Dufka, senior Africa researcher at HRW is quoted in the statement as saying. “The commanders of these groups need to stop the abuses, ensure discipline over their fighters, and appropriately punish those in their ranks responsible for these crimes”, she added.
The statement also denounces the Islamist armed group for having “summarily executed two men, amputated the hand of at least one other, carried out public floggings and threatened women and Christians".
International Criminal Court (ICC) indicated that it may investigate crimes allegedly committed in Mali and was closely following the developments in the West African state since clashes erupted around 17 January 2012.
FK/NI/GF