At least 10 civilians were killed on Sunday after Malian military drones struck a village gathering in the central San region, according to local and security sources.
Residents said the victims were preparing for a traditional mass wedding ceremony in Tene when the attack happened, turning what was meant to be a celebration into tragedy.
“One moment people were getting ready for the wedding, and the next there was panic and death everywhere,” a local resident told AFP anonymously.
Security officials said the drones targeted a convoy of motorcycles moving through the area, which may have raised suspicion from the air.
“The villagers were preparing for the second edition of this collective wedding ceremony, an important cultural event in the community,” a security source explained. “Unfortunately, the procession of motorcycles likely drew the drones’ attention.”
Another local official confirmed that at least 10 civilians lost their lives in the strike.
The incident comes as Mali faces worsening instability following coordinated attacks launched in late April by fighters linked to al-Qaeda and Tuareg separatist groups.
The assaults targeted key towns and reportedly led to the death of the country’s defence minister.
Several northern areas, including Kidal, are now said to be under the control of the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) and allied jihadist groups, which have also tightened pressure around the capital, Bamako.
Mali has struggled with armed violence for more than a decade, with insurgent groups linked to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State continuing to battle government forces across different parts of the country.
Separatist movements and criminal networks have also contributed to the prolonged crisis.
