The United States urged an investigation by Mali's transitional government into the likely execution of hundreds of villagers. A statement by State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said on Monday that the U.S. “is appalled by the disregard for human life exhibited by elements of the Malian Armed Forces in cooperation with the Kremlin-backed Wagner Group during the operation in Moura, Mali in March of last year,” adding that a probe should be "independent, impartial, efficient, exhaustive and transparent.”