West Africa correspondent Monika Pronczuk had already reported on allegations of abuses by Russians fighting jihadists as part of the Wagner mercenary group in Mali — now the world’s deadliest region for extremism. But when Wagner was replaced this summer by a new Russian military unit, Africa Corps, her sources made clear: the abuses hadn’t stopped.
Determined to hear directly from survivors, Pronczuk secured rare access to Mauritania’s remote border zone, where thousands of Malians have recently fled, living in makeshift shelters. Mali’s military government has made direct reporting inside the country nearly impossible, making this cross-border access all the more critical.
There, Pronczuk and photo/video freelancer Caitlin Kelly spoke with more than 30 refugees who gave harrowing accounts of violence — including beheadings, looting and sexual assault — committed by the “white men” who they said arrived in helicopters and now report directly to Moscow. Most spoke on condition of anonymity, fearing retaliation.
Malian officials have never publicly acknowledged the presence of either Wagner or Africa Corps. Russia’s Defense Ministry did not respond to questions.
Judges recognized the challenges of reporting this story and highlighted the impact of the exclusive survivor testimony, compelling photos and digital presentation.
For their strong work on an important story, Monika Pronczuk and Caitlin Kelly are this week’s first Best of the Week winner.
Related articles
