A shocking tragedy unfolded in central Mali over the weekend as drone strikes carried out by the national army claimed the lives of at least ten civilians, mostly young people, who were en route to a traditional collective marriage celebration in the village of Téné, located in the San region.
a joyous occasion turned into mourning
Eyewitnesses recount how the attack occurred on Sunday, shattering what was meant to be a moment of communal happiness. «Ten of our children were killed by gunfire whose origin remains unknown», shared a local resident under anonymity. «What was supposed to be a day of celebration for the entire village has instead become an unbearable tragedy.»
escalating tensions in the san region
The drone strikes took place against a backdrop of heightened security concerns in Mali, following large-scale coordinated attacks on April 25th and 26th by armed groups, including the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM), an Al-Qaeda affiliate, and the predominantly Tuareg Azwad Liberation Front (FLA) rebel movement.
targeting a motorcycle procession
A security source, also speaking anonymously, confirmed the army’s involvement in the strikes. «The tragedy occurred as villagers were preparing for the second edition of this traditional collective marriage, a major cultural event for the community», the source explained. «The strikes targeted a procession of motorcycles following one another—likely what drew the drones’ attention.» This account aligns with reports from a local elected official, who confirmed «at least ten civilians were killed during a wedding celebration when drones struck».
The incident has left the community in deep mourning, with survivors and local leaders struggling to comprehend the loss of life in what should have been a festive gathering.
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