Civilian Harm under Military Rule in the Central Sahel

Hearing Notice

Please join the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission for a hearing on the worsening human rights situation in the Central Sahel, with a focus on Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger.

Civilians across the region are increasingly caught between state security forces and extremist insurgencies. Since 2020, a series of military coups has brought juntas to power in all three countries, weakening democratic institutions and eroding protections for fundamental rights. Violence linked to Islamist armed groups has made the Central Sahel one of the world’s deadliest conflict zones, with armed groups responsible for mass killings, forced recruitment, and coercive enforcement of sharia law. The region accounts for a significant share of global terrorism-related deaths.

Government responses have relied heavily on military force and have been accompanied by credible allegations of serious abuses by security forces, including extrajudicial killings, arbitrary detention, and attacks on civilians. At the same time, authorities have curtailed political and civic life through the detention of opponents, forced conscription, the dissolution of political parties, and restrictions on civil society. 

Reports point to possible war crimes and crimes against humanity by both state and non-state actors, as well as targeted violence against certain communities, including members of the Fulani, Dogon, Mossi and Tuareg ethnic groups. Attacks on humanitarian workers have further restricted access to essential aid. Recent withdrawals by military-led governments from regional and international bodies, including the Economic Community of West African States and the International Criminal Court, risk further weakening accountability.

Counterterrorism priorities have long shaped U.S. relations with Sahelian governments. Witnesses will examine current U.S. engagement in the region and consider policy options to strengthen civilian protection, human rights, and accountability.

The hearing will be held in person and is open to Members of Congress, congressional staff, the public, and the media. It will be livestreamed on the Commission website. For questions, please contact Grace Gerardi (for Co-Chair McGovern) or Mark Milosch (for Co-Chair Smith). 

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