A/HRC/37/78 conflict. On 2 October, some 20 unidentified armed individuals arrived by boat and raided a village, destroying a number of radio and television sets belonging to civilians. They then warned the population not to listen to music, adding that anyone caught infringing this or any other of their instructions (issued based on their interpretation of sharia law) would be severely punished. 16. The security situation in the city of Kidal and in most of Kidal Region is characterized by widespread organized crime. In the city of Kidal alone, over 20 instances of aggravated theft have been reported since the beginning of October 2017. In most cases, employees of humanitarian organizations and dozens of civilians, including MINUSMA employees, have been targeted. Some have lost possessions, such as motorcycles, telephones and cash. These acts are unique in that they are committed in broad daylight. 17. The Independent Expert was shocked by the rise in attacks against humanitarian actors and the impact of this rise on the population. For example, on 21 October 2017, at around 3 a.m., three unidentified armed individuals unlawfully entered the home of nine staff members of humanitarian organizations, including the International Rescue Committee and Médecins du Monde, and stole six mobile telephones. The assailants reportedly tied the hands of one of the residents and forced him to lead them to the rooms of the other residents. After assembling all the residents, the assailants threatened to kill them, saying that they had not killed any staff members in the course of other burglaries at the International Rescue Committee but warning them that any act of resistance could provoke the use of fatal force. This incident was the fourth armed robbery at the International Rescue Committee since August 2017. On 18 October 2017, the International Committee of the Red Cross announced that it would significantly scale back its activities in Kidal as of 20 October 2017 because of insecurity in the region. The announcement was made a few days following an attempted home invasion and armed robbery at one of its residences in Kidal on 16 October 2017, the latest in a string of attacks targeting humanitarian organizations, members of MINUSMA and civilians. The International Committee of the Red Cross specified that the scale-back would not have an impact on the support provided to the surgical centres of the referral hospital. 18. The Independent Expert was informed that, on 15 July, a civilian transport vehicle was attacked by four unidentified armed men on two motorcycles in Ménaka-Ti-nDermine. The assailants shot and injured a passenger while others were stripped of their possessions, including cash and laptop computers. The victims notified the gendarmerie in Ménaka but no investigation has been opened. 19. The Independent Expert was informed that the arrests, especially those in Douentza cercle (Mopti), appeared to target members of the Fulani community suspected of having ties with armed or terrorist groups. Throughout May 2017, the national authorities arrested at least 112 individuals, including 108 men, 2 women and 2 boys, for terrorism-related activities in the area of Mopti. The Human Rights and Protection Division of MINUSMA has been able to determine the ethnic origin of 106 of those arrested: 100 were Fulani, 2 were foreign nationals and 4 were Songhai. Most of the Fulani detainees indicated that the Fulani are singled out during operations conducted by the Malian authorities. It should be noted that the defence and security forces themselves play a considerable role in the destabilization of the region and the radicalization of the local population, given that the population has lost faith in the forces owing to the human rights violations they allegedly commit during their operations and to the impunity they enjoy in cases processed by the national authorities. 20. The lack of local administrative and security authorities in most regions weakens the rule of law and heightens the population’s vulnerability to all forms of violence. Isolated areas serve as hide-outs for armed groups, creating conditions conducive to all kinds of abuse and human rights violations. The Independent Expert is concerned about the fate of civilians living in places entirely occupied and controlled by armed groups. 21. The Independent Expert is pleased that the former South-African hostage Stephen McGown was released at the end of July after being held for six years by Al-Qaida and stresses that some 15 hostages, including Malians and foreign nationals, remain in the hands of armed groups. GE.18-01553 5