Human Rights Violations and the Security Forces in Mali and Niger

Security forces in Mali and Niger are at the centre of the intensifying conflicts in the Sahel. Uniformed personnel have collectively been involved in thousands of violent incidents, whose frequency has rapidly increased. This policy brief examines the involvement of the two countries’ security forces in violations of human rights, which have become more widespread and serious. We argue that providers of security force assistance to Mali and Niger should take these violations into greater account when assessing whether to start or continue providing security assistance to these two states’ security forces.