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.