‘We saw terrible things’: Mali refugees tell of atrocities amid attacks

In March, 75-year-old Moctar fled his village of Sondaje after armed groups threatened residents to leave within 72 hours. He recounted extreme violence, describing decapitations and the pervasive fear among villagers. His family is among thousands who have recently crossed into Mauritania, traumatized by the abuses they witnessed. Mali is at the center of escalating violence in the Sahel, with al-Qaeda and ISIS-affiliated groups controlling vast rural areas.