THE military-led government of Mali said today that it is investigating allegations that some of its soldiers “coldly executed” at least 24 civilians in the north of the west African country last week.

A separatist Tuareg alliance, called Azawad Liberation Front (FLA), which is battling Malian government forces, claimed the events took place last Monday.

The FLA say Malian forces and Wagner Group mercenaries intercepted two passenger vehicles travelling to Algeria from the Malian city of Gao and killed the women and children passengers.

Army chief General Oumar Diarra said in a statement that the allegations “relayed by terrorist networks, allies and sponsors” follow other bogus claims made against Malian forces.

The Malian government has been battling against Tuareg militia seeking to force a breakaway state in the north as well as jihadist groups linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State group.

After two military takeovers in 2020 and 2021, the new government hired Russian mercenaries to fight the rebels.

There have been multiple claims by rights groups of gross human rights abuses aimed at government and Russian forces  — accusations they deny.