Douna drone strike

Template:Infobox civilian attackTemplate:Campaignbox Mali War

During the night spanning March 22 to 23, 2024, a Bayraktar TB2 drone operated by the Malian Army targeted a madrasa in the village of Douna, located in Douentza Cercle, Mali. This strike resulted in the deaths of fourteen children and left nine others wounded. This incident followed closely after a similar drone strike in Amasrakad that claimed fourteen civilian lives.

Background

Douna lies within the Douentza Cercle, an area recognized as a stronghold for the jihadist faction known as Katiba Serma, affiliated with Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM). The village itself experiences periodic incursions by these militants, who maintain bases within the nearby Serma and Foulsare forests. Due to ongoing military operations by the Malian Army, access to these forests was restricted for Douna's residents one week before the drone strike.

In recent months, Malian forces have conducted several indiscriminate drone attacks targeting civilian populations. On March 17, drone strikes in Amasrakad, within the Gao Region, resulted in thirteen fatalities and numerous injuries. Earlier in February, drone attacks targeted a wedding celebration in Konokassi causing five deaths, followed by another strike at a funeral gathering for those victims that also claimed five lives.

Drone strike

In the Dogon country, most madrasas hold classes either very early morning or late evening. Evening sessions typically involve lighting a fire to provide illumination. Around 10pm on March 22, students had gathered near such a fire when the drone launched its attack. Fourteen children lost their lives instantly; among them were nine members of the Ongoiba family. Additionally, two victims belonged to the Sawadogo family and three to the Maiga family. The nine injured students were transported to medical facilities located in Mopti and Sévaré.

Aftermath

The drone strike, along with the release of images depicting the casualties, ignited significant debate among officials in the Malian government and military. On March 25, JNIM issued a statement condemning the operation and criticizing the deployment of Bayraktar TB2 drones. The day before, JNIM's leader in Burkina Faso, Djaffar Dicko, urged Turkish lawmakers to halt the provision of Bayraktar drones to governments in the Sahel region.