After discovering a mass grave, Mali claims advanced state of putrefaction rules out Malian involvement. French military sources, for their part, have produced footage of what they allege are Russian mercenaries arranging corpses to frame France for war crimes.
The Malian government has brought in the Russian mercenaries to help fight the ongoing incursion of jihadist insurgents. Aid to the Church in Need reported in December that attacks on civilians by Islamic militants have increased, particularly targeting Christians and others who oppose them.
