At least 13 people were killed following a raid by the Malian army and a group that locals identified as Russia’s Wagner mercenary group on 30 October.
They said the army and mercenaries targeted ethnic Fulanis during the raid.
Residents said a woman and child were among those killed in the attack on Guelledje village in Tenenkou Cercle, Mopti Region, according to the AFP news agency.
Several suspected jihadists were also arrested during the operation.
According to an association for the promotion of Fulani culture more than 20 civilians were killed in the area, but this was denied by a Malian military source, AFP says.
The Malian army has long been accused of abuses, including by the country’s UN mission (Minusma) and is said to have hired the services of Wagner, whose actions have been decried.
Bamako denies this and says it has cooperation with the Russian army because of a long-standing state-to-state relationship.
The Kremlin has previously denied any involvement with Wagner.
Mali has been facing a security, political and humanitarian crisis since the outbreak of independence and jihadist insurgencies in 2012 in the north.
The government claims to have reversed the poor security trend.
