DOUANKARA, Mauritania — A new Russian military unit, known as the Africa Corps, has replaced the Wagner mercenary group in Mali and is reportedly committing serious human rights abuses, including rapes and beheadings. Civilians fleeing the violence have shared their experiences with the Associated Press, revealing that the Africa Corps employs tactics similar to those used by Wagner.

Refugees described horrific scenes, including villages set ablaze and bodies found with missing organs. A village chief who escaped the violence stated, "It’s a scorched-earth policy. The soldiers speak to no one. Anyone they see, they shoot. No questions, no warning. People don’t even know why they are being killed."

The Sahel region of West Africa has become increasingly dangerous, with thousands killed in extremist violence. In response, the military governments of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger have sought assistance from Russia, moving away from Western support. When the Africa Corps took over six months ago, many civilians hoped for a reduction in brutality. However, reports indicate that the situation has worsened.

The United Nations has noted that civilians are suffering abuses from all sides in the conflict. The AP spoke with 34 refugees at the Mauritanian border, where many have fled as fighting escalated. Most spoke anonymously due to fear of retaliation. One refugee claimed, "They are the same men, paid by the government, and continue the massacres. There is no difference between Wagner and Africa Corps."

Malian authorities have not publicly acknowledged the presence of either group. However, Russian state media has recently praised the Africa Corps for its role in combating terrorism in Mali. Russia’s Foreign Ministry confirmed the unit is operating at the request of the Malian government, providing various military services.

Mougaloa, a herder from northern Mali, recounted a traumatic experience when armed men, accompanied by Malian soldiers, captured her son. After he denied seeing militants, they beat him and then killed him in front of her. She and her family later fled but were pursued by the same armed men, who stole their belongings and took her daughter, Fatma. Mougaloa has not heard from her since.

Experts have noted the difficulty in assessing the full scale of violence in Mali, especially in remote areas where access for journalists and aid workers is limited. Sukru Cansizoglu, a representative for the U.N. refugee agency, stated, "There are a lot of people raped, attacked, killed. Families are separated, there is no doubt about that."

Civilians face extreme pressure from both militants and the Africa Corps, often caught in a dangerous situation. Heni Nsaibia from the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project explained that if civilians do not report seeing jihadists, they risk being killed by the army. Conversely, if they do report, they may be targeted by the militants.

The Africa Corps emerged as a successor to Wagner after its leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin, died in a plane crash in 2023. While the exact terms of Mali’s agreement with the Africa Corps remain unclear, analysts estimate that the unit consists of around 2,000 fighters, some of whom are not Russian. Reports suggest that the unit recruits from various countries, including Belarus and other African nations.

Despite a reported decrease in civilian deaths attributed to Russian forces this year, experts caution that the numbers may not reflect the true situation. Nsaibia noted, "People are more scared to report, in order to avoid putting their own safety on the line."

The withdrawal of a U.N. peacekeeping mission and Mali’s exit from the International Criminal Court have further complicated efforts to monitor human rights abuses. Eduardo Gonzalez Cueva, a U.N. independent expert on human rights in Mali, stated that he has received no response from the military authorities regarding requests for access to the country.

As the situation continues to evolve, many refugees express despair. Bocar, a refugee, remarked, "Only the name was changed. The clothes, the vehicles, the people stayed the same. The methods stayed the same, and even became worse. So we left home again."

The ongoing violence has left many families shattered, with individuals like Mougaloa fearing for the safety of their loved ones. The cycle of violence and fear continues to grip the region, leaving civilians in a precarious position as they navigate the dangers posed by both militants and government forces.