A/HRC/23/57 population. In addition, on 4 February 2013, also in Timbuktu, a man belonging to the Tuareg community was allegedly abducted and killed by unidentified members of the Malian Defence and Security Forces. His body was recovered on the outskirts of the town. 24. In the morning of 11 January 2013, soldiers of the Malian army reportedly arrested five persons belonging to the Peul and Tuareg communities, including two gendarmes. It is alleged that, on suspicion of being “traitors”, these persons were taken to Sévaré military camp where they were executed the same day. The Mission met with the wife of one of the victims, who said that she had been unable to ascertain where her husband’s body had been buried. The Mission also spoke with the chief of the gendarmerie in Sévaré and gave him the names of the two gendarmes who were among the victims. 25. While in Sévaré, the Mission investigated allegations of bodies having been dumped in nine wells located near the bus station. Two witnesses interviewed in Bamako had told the Mission that the Malian army had thrown bodies into these wells. A passer-by indicated that one of the wells contained at least 10 bodies. The Mission found traces resembling dried blood on the edge of three wells. It also noticed that earth had recently been thrown into the wells. 26. The Mission interviewed three people who had witnessed four killings carried out by armed groups, two in Sévaré and two in Timbuktu. The Mission also received information that the bodies of other victims had been taken to Sévaré hospital, suggesting that numerous civilians may have been killed during the liberation of Konna. The Mission was unable to obtain any information that might enable it to determine the exact number of combatants and the exact number of civilians among the victims. The Mission also interviewed the mother of a 35-year-old man who had apparently been shot by members of AQMI in Timbuktu while trying to flee. 27. A number of witnesses have accused MNLA and MUJAO combatants of violating the right to life. For example, on 20 March 2013, 20 people are alleged to have been killed during an attack on the village of Bougoumi, in the municipality of Ténenkou, carried out by armed men belonging to MNLA. In another typical incident, on 11 May 2013, a member of MUJAO reportedly opened fire on a crowd of people gathered at a humanitarian aid distribution point in Ménaka, killing two civilians. The occurrence of violations of the right to life committed by armed groups in the north of Mali has been confirmed in interviews conducted by the MINUSMA human rights teams in Malian refugee camps in Mauritania, Niger and Burkina Faso. B. Enforced disappearances 28. The Mission investigated allegations concerning the enforced disappearance of nine men on 14 February 2013. The Mission interviewed three witnesses, who gave credible information about the disappearance of a merchant of Arab origin who was taken away by a group of unidentified males dressed in Malian army uniform. Based on information gained in other interviews with credible witnesses, in total, in Bamako and Sévaré, members of the Malian army arrested nine people (eight persons of Arab origin and one of Songhay origin). 29. A great number of people have turned to the MINUSMA Human Rights Division for help in finding members of their families who have disappeared since military operations were initiated in the north of the country. Malian refugees in the various camps in Niger, Mauritania and Burkina Faso have provided information about alleged cases of enforced disappearance and abductions of members of their families perpetrated by armed groups and Malian forces. 30. Furthermore, human rights observers have received testimonies indicating that abductions are still being carried out by members of armed groups including the Arab 8 GE.13-15228