At least 10 civilians have been killed in Mali after army drone strikes hit a village in the central San region, turning a planned wedding celebration into tragedy, according to local sources and residents.
Witnesses said the victims were gathered for a traditional mass wedding ceremony in the Tene locality when drones struck a procession of motorbikes heading toward the event.
Community members described the attack as a devastating loss, saying the village was preparing for what should have been a moment of joy.
A resident said “10 of our children” were killed, while local officials and security sources confirmed the death toll and said several others may have been injured.
The strikes come amid a rapidly worsening security situation in Mali, following a series of coordinated attacks by armed groups, including Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), linked to al-Qaeda, and Tuareg separatists from the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA).
Military authorities have not issued a detailed public statement on the incident, but security sources suggest the drones may have mistaken the wedding convoy for militant movement due to its large motorbike procession.
The incident highlights growing concerns over the use of aerial strikes in populated rural areas, where distinguishing between civilians and armed groups has become increasingly difficult in Mali’s fragmented conflict zones.
The country has faced a deepening insurgency since 2012, driven by jihadist groups and separatist movements that now control or contest large parts of the north and central regions. Recent months have seen a surge in attacks on military positions, including a major coordinated offensive in April that targeted several strategic towns and killed senior government officials.
Security analysts say the violence has intensified since rebel forces and jihadist groups expanded cooperation, putting additional pressure on Mali’s military government.
In response to the deteriorating security situation, the authorities have increasingly relied on drone surveillance and air operations alongside ground forces and foreign military support. However, critics warn that such tactics risk increasing civilian casualties and further alienating rural communities.
The latest strike adds to growing tensions in central Mali, where dozens were also killed earlier this month in separate attacks on villages in the Mopti region. Entire communities have been displaced, with humanitarian agencies warning of worsening food insecurity and limited access to basic services.
Mali, which has been grappling with instability for more than a decade, remains at the centre of a complex conflict involving jihadist groups, ethnic militias and shifting international military partnerships following the withdrawal of French forces and United Nations peacekeepers in recent years.
As investigations continue, residents in the affected village are mourning their dead, while calls are growing for greater protection of civilians in one of West Africa’s most volatile conflict zones.
