Drone strike kills 20 at wedding ceremony

A drone strike suspected to have been carried out by the Malian Armed Forces (FAMA) has killed more than 20 civilians, including women and children, during a wedding ceremony in Beydi, a community located between Gossi and Inabaw in the Timbuktu region of northern Mali.

The incident, which occurred on Thursday, has sparked outrage among civil society groups and renewed concerns over the military’s use of aerial bombardments in civilian-populated areas.

Security analyst Zagazola Makama confirmed the development, stating that the drone targeted the wedding gathering without warning, turning a festive occasion into a scene of horror.

“The drone came without warning and dropped explosives directly on the wedding gathering. We lost many people—men, women, and children,” a resident told reporters.

Eyewitnesses described a harrowing aftermath, with mutilated bodies, charred remains of children, and grieving families wailing over the destruction.

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Local sources said at least 20 people were killed, while several others sustained serious injuries and were rushed to nearby hospitals for treatment.

As of press time, Malian authorities had yet to issue an official statement on the incident. However, civil society organisations have condemned the attack, describing it as one of the deadliest targeting errors since the military junta took power in 2021.

The strike has intensified criticism of the junta’s growing reliance on drone warfare in its campaign against jihadist insurgents in the north. Rights groups have repeatedly warned that such tactics risk harming innocent civilians and further destabilising the region.

The attack also adds to a growing list of alleged human rights violations by the junta, which has faced accusations of secret dealings with militant groups, including Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM).

Northern Mali has been mired in conflict since 2012, when separatist and jihadist groups seized large swathes of territory. Despite ongoing military operations, insecurity remains widespread, with both insurgents and government forces accused of committing atrocities.

In recent months, the junta—reportedly backed by Russian Wagner Group mercenaries—has intensified drone operations in the Timbuktu and Gao regions, raising fears of indiscriminate bombings among local populations.

Observers say the Beydi attack could deepen mistrust between communities and the military, and potentially push more young people into the arms of extremist groups.