MALIAN security forces have been accused of committing war crimes by UN investigators, while jihadist gangs have perpetrated crimes against humanity in the country.

The allegations were made in a 338-page report published yesterday by the International Commission of Inquiry, which has scrutinised events in Mali over the past six years.

The three-member panel recommended the establishment of a court that specialises in prosecuting international crimes.

“The commission has reasonable grounds to believe that the Malian defence and security forces committed war crimes, including violence to the life and person of civilians and persons ‘hors de combat’ suspected of being affiliated or co-operating with extremist armed groups,” the report said.

Mali descended into violence in 2012 when jihadist groups joined an insurgency in the north of the country.

Instability has continued, with former president Ibrahim Boubacar Keita ousted in a military coup earlier this year and at least 200,000 people internally displaced due to Islamist violence and a worsening economic crisis.

“The commission considers that extremist armed groups committed crimes against humanity and war crimes,” the report said. These include “murder, maiming and other cruel treatment, rape and other forms of sexual violence, hostage-taking and attacks against personnel of humanitarian organisations and [UN peacekeeping force] Minusma.”