Drone strikes carried out by the Malian army on Sunday cost the lives of at least ten civilians, mostly young people, as they were preparing to celebrate a traditional collective wedding in the center of the country, AFP learned from security and local sources.
These strikes took place in the locality of Téné, located in the San region (center). They intervene in a context marked by a critical security situation in the country after large-scale coordinated attacks carried out on April 25 and 26 by jihadists from the Support Group for Islam and Muslims (JNIM), allied to Al-Qaeda, and the rebellion of the Liberation Front of Azawad (FLA), predominantly Tuareg.
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“I was terribly sad”
“Ten of our children were killed by shots whose origins are unknown”a local resident told AFP on condition of anonymity. “What was supposed to be a moment of joy in the village turned into enormous sadness”he lamented.
A security source, who requested anonymity for his safety, confirmed the strikes. “The drama occurred while the villagers were preparing the second edition of this traditional collective wedding, a major cultural event for this community”he declared to AFP. According to him, the strikes targeted “a procession of several motorcycles following each other”. “This is certainly what attracted the attention ofdrones . There were at least nine deaths.”he added.
A local elected official also confirmed to AFP around ten deaths. “A wedding was to take place when drones killed at least ten civilians. It’s truly a mourning.”he told AFP.
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