US diplomacy expressed “dismay” on Monday after the release of a UN report accusing the Malian army of committing atrocities in March 2022 in Moura, and calling on the African country’s transitional government to lift restrictions on blue heads.

“The US is appalled by the disregard for human life shown by elements of the Malian armed forces working with the Kremlin-backed Wagner Group during an operation in Moura last March,” said a press release signed by the spokesman. of State Department Matthew Miller.

On Friday, the UN accused Mali’s army and “foreign” fighters of executing at least 500 people in March 2022 during an anti-jihadist operation in Moura, releasing a report by the High Commissioner for Human Rights.

UNHCR “has reasonable grounds to believe” that at least 500 people, including approximately 20 women and seven children, “were executed by the Malian armed forces and foreign military personnel” between 27 and 31 March 2022 in this community of some thousands of inhabitants, it is emphasized in the text.

The report was based on research by the human rights division of the UN peacekeeping mission deployed since 2013 in Mali (MINUSMA), 157 one-on-one interviews and 11 interviews with resident groups.

The text, denounced by Mali’s ruling military junta on Saturday as a “narrative” full of “fantasy”, is the strongest indictment ever leveled against Mali’s armed forces — which have repeatedly been accused of atrocities in the past.

“We call on the transitional government to conduct an independent, impartial, effective, thorough and transparent investigation to hold those responsible accountable, as recommended by the UN report,” the US State Department statement said.

Besides, “it is vital that MINUSMA is able to continue to exercise its mandate unhindered”, the text emphasizes, which denounces “the transitional government’s restrictions on the freedom of movement” of this UN force.