The Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO) and the Malian Association for the Preservation of Bellah Culture (AMASCB-IKEWAN) jointly and unequivocally condemn the ongoing persecution, marginalisation and systemic invisibilization of the Bellah people in Mali and across the Sahel. In response to this alarming situation, UNPO has published a new report through the UNPO Academy titled “From Colonialism to Neocolonialism: The Bellah Minority and the Russian Reconfiguration of Power in the Sahel.”
The report highlights the deepening crisis facing the Bellah, a community historically subjected to descent-based slavery and social exclusion. Despite their rich cultural heritage and semi-nomadic pastoralist traditions, the Bellah continue to face systemic discrimination, forced displacement and exclusion from political, economic and social decision-making. UNPO emphasizes that the Bellah demand recognition, protection of their cultural identity, meaningful participation in governance and the ability to determine their own political, economic, and social future.
Mali’s attempt to free itself from decades of French colonial influence has, paradoxically, led to new forms of dependency. The withdrawal of French forces and the arrival of Russian military contractors, formerly the Wagner Group and now operating as the Africa Corps, have reproduced and intensified old colonial mechanisms of control. Russia’s presence in Mali and the wider Sahel props up authoritarian military regimes, exploits natural resources, and fosters instability under the guise of “counterterrorism.” Malian and Russian-aligned forces have been accused of grave human rights violations, including summary executions, enforced disappearances and attacks on ethnic minorities such as the Bellah and Fulani.
UNPO stresses that colonialism is not a historical relic. In Mali, systems of domination and social stratification continue to harm communities labelled as “slaves,” particularly the Bellah. These enduring structures perpetuate discrimination, social exclusion and limitations on access to education, political participation and economic opportunity, leaving the Bellah marginalized and vulnerable within Malian society.
UNPO reiterates its unwavering commitment to the Bellah people, supporting their fight for justice, recognition, and self-determination. The organization calls on the Malian government and the international community to take immediate and concrete measures to end impunity, protect civilians, and ensure that the Bellah, and all marginalized communities in the Sahel, can live with dignity, autonomy, and security. UNPO also stresses that the threats facing the Bellah are not confined to the Sahel: Russia wields an unprecedented form of soft power through its control over migratory flows and influence over authoritarian governments, which has direct implications for European and international stability. By bringing the plight of the Bellah to global attention, UNPO emphasizes that their struggle is not only a matter of local justice but a cause of international concern.
