Wagner Group members have been spreading videos of themselves cannibalizing victims in Mali as part of a horrific psychological warfare campaign that legal experts now say constitutes war crimes under international law.
Key Takeaways
- The International Criminal Court is reviewing a confidential report alleging the Wagner Group has committed war crimes in West Africa by deliberately spreading images of atrocities on social media
- Since Wagner’s arrival in Mali in December 2021, violence against civilians has dramatically increased, including the massacre of over 300 civilians in Moura in March 2022
- Videos showing men in military uniforms committing extreme acts of violence, including butchering corpses and apparent cannibalism, are being distributed through Telegram channels
- Legal experts from UC Berkeley argue that the online distribution of these images constitutes a war crime and a crime against humanity
- Violence in the Sahel region has escalated as military governments in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger have turned to Russia and Wagner for support against extremist groups
Russian Mercenaries Spread Terror Through Social Media
The Wagner Group, a Russian private military company with deep ties to the Kremlin, is facing unprecedented scrutiny as the International Criminal Court examines evidence of their alleged atrocities in West Africa. Operating in Mali since December 2021, Wagner has been accused of not only committing horrific acts of violence but deliberately spreading visual evidence of these acts online as a psychological terror tactic. The mercenary group has been providing security services and training local forces in exchange for financial gains while simultaneously advancing Russian geopolitical objectives in the region.
Since Wagner’s arrival in Mali, there has been a documented increase in civilian casualties and human rights abuses. One of the most devastating incidents occurred in March 2022, when over 300 civilians were massacred in Moura. These operations have followed a similar pattern to Wagner’s activities in other regions, such as the Central African Republic, where the group has been implicated in widespread human rights violations. Their presence has created a climate of fear among local populations who often view the mercenaries as more threatening than the terrorist groups they supposedly combat.
The International Criminal Court has been asked to review evidence that the Russia-linked Wagner Group has committed war crimes by spreading images of apparent atrocities in West Africa on social media, including ones alluding to cannibalism. https://t.co/ZhZztuLouM
— Kenneth Roth (@KenRoth) June 22, 2025
ICC Considers Unprecedented War Crimes Investigation
Legal experts from UC Berkeley have submitted a confidential brief to the International Criminal Court arguing that Wagner’s online distribution of atrocity images constitutes both a war crime and a crime against humanity. The brief requests that the ICC investigate not only Wagner but also the governments of Mali and Russia for alleged abuses including extrajudicial killings and torture committed between December 2021 and July 2024. While the ICC has acknowledged awareness of human rights violations in Mali, they have not yet officially commented on the specific allegations contained in the brief.
“The online distribution of these images could constitute the war crime of outrages on personal dignity and the crime against humanity of other inhumane acts for psychologically terrorizing the civilian population,” said Lindsay Freeman, from UC Berkeley’s Human Rights Center.
The videos in question show men in military uniforms committing extreme acts of violence, including butchering corpses and apparent cannibalism. These disturbing images are deliberately posted on social media channels, many likely run by current or former Wagner operatives, often accompanied by dehumanizing language. This pattern of behavior appears designed to instill terror in local populations while simultaneously serving as recruitment and propaganda material. Experts note that such tactics often lead to reprisal attacks and increased recruitment into extremist groups.
Russia’s Growing Influence in Africa’s Deadliest Region
The Sahel region has become the global epicenter of terrorism, with half of the world’s terrorism victims killed there last year. As traditional Western security partners have been expelled from countries like Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger following military coups, Russia has rapidly expanded its influence through military cooperation agreements and Wagner deployments. This shift in allegiances has transformed the security landscape of West Africa and provided Russia with increased leverage and access to valuable natural resources.
“We live in fear. We fear Wagner much more than the terrorists, really. The terrorists, they have never come to destroy a market (authors’ translation),” said a resident of Gossi, Mali.
With the withdrawal of UN peacekeeping missions from Mali, social media has become one of the primary sources of information about what’s happening on the ground. Human Rights Watch has documented numerous atrocities committed by Wagner and other groups in the region but notes that accountability has been minimal. The Malian government’s suppression of independent journalism and civil society has created an information vacuum that Wagner has exploited through its disinformation campaigns, including staging evidence of atrocities allegedly committed by French forces to justify their own presence.
Holding Perpetrators Accountable
Security experts have recommended appointing a U.S. special envoy for the Sahel, reassessing the UN’s mandates in the region, and supporting local journalists and civil society organizations to document abuses. These measures could help counter the disinformation efforts by both the Malian junta and Wagner while working toward holding perpetrators accountable. The international community faces significant challenges in addressing these issues, particularly as Russia continues to expand its influence and military partnerships across Africa.
“Wagner has deftly leveraged information and communications technologies to cultivate and promote its global brand as ruthless mercenaries. Their Telegram network in particular, which depicts their conduct across the Sahel, serves as a proud public display of their brutality,” stated Lindsay Freeman, director of technology, law and policy at UC Berkeley’s Human Rights Center.
The unprecedented nature of this case highlights the evolving understanding of war crimes in the digital age. If the ICC determines that posting atrocity content online constitutes a war crime, it could establish important precedent for future prosecutions and potentially create new legal frameworks for addressing the weaponization of social media in conflict zones. For now, the people of Mali and neighboring countries continue to suffer as Wagner’s campaign of terror continues with apparent impunity.
