Interactive Dialogue with the Independent Expert on Mali
Statement by the Delegation of the United States of America
As delivered by Sarah R. Creedon
Human Rights Council – 49th Session
March 29, 2022
Thank you,
Mr. Vice President. The United States welcomes the Independent Expert’s briefing.
The United States supports the Algiers Accord which, if implemented, would play a stabilizing role in Mali and the region.
That said we remain deeply concerned by reports of human rights violations and abuses, including extrajudicial killings, with impunity. We urge Malian security forces to refrain from excessive use of force or incitement to violence and to ensure that perpetrators are held accountable. We condemn the violent extremist groups and community self-defense groups attacks against civilian populations beyond the control of the Malian state.
We also remain deeply concerned about the involvement of the Russia-backed Wagner Group, which consistently fails to adhere to international humanitarian law, and whose destabilizing activities have undermined the enjoyment of human rights in Mali.
We caution that with Wagner’s deployment in Mali, abusive military operations will likely mount, and civilians will suffer. The price to pay is just too high.
Question: What additional actions can we take to advance implementation of the Algiers Accord?
Thank you