The database below details the sources referenced in pages 32 – 37 of our report on drone proliferation and use in Africa, Death on Delivery.
For a fuller discussion of our use of sources, including notes on local media outlets, see pages 14-15 of the report. For full details of ACLED dataset, see the bottom of this page.
In some cases, we have cited posts from X. Owed to the vulnerability of content on this platform in the current context, we have archived these posts here in the event that links break or content is otherwise made unavailable.
- Please be aware that many of the linked posts and articles on this page contain graphic content and/or descriptions of injury.
| Date | Country | Location | Civilian deaths | No. wounded | Our description + source(s) | ACLED incident reference / Source links + notes |
| 4/11/2021 | Ethiopia | Chefa Robit, Amhara | At least 38 | 40 | At least 38 people were killed and over 40 injured in an ENDF drone strike in Chefa Robit town. (ACLED, OMN) | ● ACLED ETH7501
● News broadcast – Oromiya Media Network |
| 16/12/2021 | Ethiopia | Alamata, Tigray | At least 28 | – | At least 28 people were killed in several ENDF drone strikes on a marketplace in Alamata, southern Tigray. (BBC, ACLED) | ● ACLED ETH7857
● News article – BBC News |
| 7/1/2022 | Ethiopia | Dedebit, Tigray | 56-59 | 30-100 | At least 57 civilians were killed and as many as 100 wounded in an ENDF drone strike on a displaced persons camp in Debedit, Tigray. Analysts at Human Rights Watch identified shrapnel from a Roketsan MAM-L warhead, most often carried by Bayraktar TB-2 drones. (HRW, ACLED) | ● ACLED ETH7912
● Report – Human Rights Watch |
| 28/2/2022 | Burkina Faso | Belehede, Soum | At least 30 | – | At least 30 cattle traders and 3 cows were killed in a suspected drone strike by Burkinabe military forces in Belehede village, Soum. (RFI, ACLED) | ● ACLED BFO8167 /
● News article – RFI |
| 26/8/2022 | Ethiopia | Mekelle, Tigray | At least 4 | – | At least 4 people, including 2 children, were reportedly killed in a drone strike on a nursery school in Mekelle, Tigray, while government forces accused TPLF insurgents of ‘staging’ civilian deaths in the attack. Pax for Peace analyst Wim Zwijnenburg identified Bayraktar TB2 drones in satellite imagery of nearby Samera airport the previous day. (AJ, X – Wim Zwijnenberg) | ● ACLED ETH8912 /
● News article – Al-Jazeera ● WZ connects to drone delivery at Samera airport – X post. |
| 14/9/2022 | Burkina Faso | Tin-Bolou, Oursi, Oudalan | 5 | – | At least 5 civilians, including 2 women and 3 youths, were killed in a suspected Burkinabe military drone strike in Tin-Bolou village, Oudalan. (ACLED, X) | ● ACLED BFO8110
● Local journalist – X post. |
| 14/9/2022 | Ethiopia | Mekelle, Tigray | 10 | 13-14 | At least 10 people were killed in a suspected ENDF drone strike on a residential area in Mekelle, Tigray. (ACLED, AJ, X – Wim Zwijnenberg) | ● ACLED ETH8992
● News article – Al-Jazeera ● WZ connects to drones at Bahir Dar airport – X post. |
| 15/9/2022 | Ethiopia | Kobo, Amhara | At least 15 | – | At least 15 people were killed in a suspected ENDF drone strike near a hospital in Kobo town, Amhara, as they gathered on a hill in search of a phone signal. (ACLED, AM) | ● ACLED ETH9150
● News article – Addis Maleda. |
| 7/10/2022 | Ethiopia | Dengolat, Tigray | At least 5 | 37 | At least 5 people were killed and at least 37 wounded in a reported ENDF drone strike on the town of Dengolat, near Mekelle, Tigray. (AN, Kibrom Gebreselassie – X) | ● ACLED ETH9102
● News article – Agenzia Nova. ● Kibrom Gebreselassie – X post. |
| 22/10/2022 | Ethiopia | Ch’obi, Amhara | At least 86 | – | At least 86 civilians were killed in a drone strike on a community gathering in the town of Ch’obi, Amhara, 90 miles northwest of Addis Ababa. (New Lines, ACLED) | ● ACLED ETH9281 (reported as 23/10)
● Report – New Lines.
|
| 2/11/2022 | Ethiopia | Bila, Ethiopia | At least 24 | – | At least 24 civilians were killed in drone strikes on a transport hub in the town of Bila, 300 miles west of Addis Ababa. (New Lines, ACLED) | ● ACLED ETH9329
● Report – New Lines.
|
| 14/11/2022 | Ethiopia | Hamuma Gindo, Oromia | At least 12 | – | At least 12 wheat farmers harvesting crops were killed by a reported ENDF drone strike in Hamuma Gindo kebele, Oromia. (ACLED, OMN) | ● ACLED ETH9369
● News broadcast – Oromiya Media Network. |
| 14/11/2022 | Ethiopia | Chobi, Oromia | At least 13 | Unknown | Over 30 people, mostly civilians, were killed in a suspected ENDF drone strike in a residential area in Ch’obi, Oromia. (ACLED, OMN) | ● ACLED ETH9370
● News broadcast – Oromia Media Network. |
| 9/4/2023 | Burkina Faso | Specific location unknown | Unknown | – | Televised reports of a large number of strikes in different areas of Burkina Faso display the Burkinabe military using Bayraktar TB-2s in populated civilian areas, as identified by Pax analyst Wim Zwijnenberg. (RTB, X – Wim Zwijnenburg) | ● News broadcast – RTB. (Note – footage does not match but corroborates large number of strikes in different areas, making geolocating WM’s tweet’s footage difficult)
● WZ – X post. |
| 3/8/2023 | Burkina Faso | Bouro | 28 | – | At least 28 people were killed and many wounded in a drone strike on a weekly market in Bouro village, in the Sahel region (HRW) | ● Report – Human Rights Watch. |
| 13 or 14/8/2023 | Ethiopia | Finote Selam | 25-70 | 50-70 | At least 25 and as many as 70 people were killed and over 50 injured in ENDF drone strike on the town of Finote Selam, as demonstrators gathered to protest the presence of federal forces in the area. (ACLED, BBC) | ● ACLED ETH10411
● News article – BBC.
|
| 1/9/2023 | Burkina Faso | Oursi, Oudalan | 6 | – | At least 6 civilians, including 4 children, were killed in a reported Burkinabe drone strike in Oursi, Oudalan. (ACLED, RTB, AIB) | ● ACLED BFO10525
● News broadcast – RTB. ● News article – AIB. |
| 10/9/2023 | Sudan | Goro (/Quoro) Market, Khartoum | 46 | 55 | At least 46 people were killed in a reported drone strike on an open market in Khartoum. (ACLED, Arab News) | ● ACLED SUD22385
● News article – Arab News. |
| 17/9/2023 | Ethiopia | Unknown location in Quarit Woreda, West Gojam, Amhara | 30 | – | As many as 30 people were killed in reported ENDF drone strikes in Quarit woreda, Amhara. (BBC, ACLED) |
● ACLED ETH10657 ● News article – BBC News (search ‘drone’ on page).
|
| 24/9/2023 | Burkina Faso | Bidi | 24-25 | 17 | At least 24 civilians were killed in a Burkinabe drone strike targeting insurgents in Bidi village, near the Mali border. (HRW) | ● Report – Human Rights Watch.
|
| 6/10/2023 | Mali | Niongolo, Mopti | 13 | – | At least 13 civilians were killed in a reported drone strike on a civilian vehicle in Niongolo village, Mopti. (ACLED) | ● Gov news report (note – claim strike was on ‘terrorist pick-up’)
● ACLED MLI30964 (cites undisclosed source) ● Local posts (corroborate civilian casualties). |
| 19/10/2023 | Ethiopia | Minjar, Amhara | 10 | – | An unknown number of people were killed in a reported ENDF drone strike on Minjar, Amhara, including at least one infant. (ACLED, VOA) | ● ACLED ETH10929
● News report – VOA, Africa.
|
| 6/11/2023 | Ethiopia | Wadera | 7 | – | 7 people, including 3 teachers, were killed in a reported ENDF drone strike on a primary school in Wadera district. (UNOHCHR) | ● Statement – UNOHCHR. |
| 7/11/2023 | Mali | Kidal | 12 | – | At least 12 civilians were killed in drone strikes in the town of Kidal in northern Mali, including on a base vacated by UN peacekeepers days earlier. (Reuters) | ● News report – Reuters. |
| 9/11/2023 | Ethiopia | Wabiir, Amhara | Over 13 | Unknown | At least 13 civilians were killed while waiting for a bus in Wabiir town, Amhara, in a reported ENDF drone strike. (ACLED, UNOHCHR) | ● ACLED ETH11016
● Statement – UNOHCR. |
| 15/11/2023 | Ethiopia | Sirinika, Amhara | 5 | – | At least 5 civilians were killed in a suspected ENDF drone strike on Sirinka, Amhara. (ACLED, EMS) | ● ACLED ETH11025
● News broadcast – Ethiopia Media Service. |
| 18/11/2023 | Burkina Faso | Boulkessi, Mali | 7 | 5 | At least 7 people were killed and at least 5 others injured in a Burkinabe military drone strike across the border in Boulkessi, Mali, said to be targeting insurgents. (HRW) | ● Report – Human Rights Watch |
| 26/11/2023 | Ethiopia | Addis Alem, Amhara | Unknown | 5 | At least 5 people were wounded in a reported ENDF drone strike on a high school ICT centre in Addis Alem town, Amhara. (ACLED). | ● ACLED ETH11134 |
| 30/11/2023 | Ethiopia | Wegeltena, South Wello, Amhara | 3-5 | Unknown | At least 4 civilians were killed and others, including a hospital manager, seriously injured in a suspected ENDF drone strike on an ambulance in Wegeltena town, Amhara. (AJ, ACLED) | ● ACLED ETH11156
● News article – Al-Jazeera.
|
| 3/12/2023 | Nigeria | Tudun Biri | 85-120 | 80 | At least 85 and up to 150 civilians were killed in an ‘accidental’ Nigerian military drone strike on Tudun Biri village, Kaduna, during the Islamic festival of Mawlud. (ACLED, AI, Coda) | ● ACLED NIG33999
● Report – Amnesty International. ● Report – Coda.
|
| 10/12/2023 | Ethiopia | Denda, Amhara | Up to 30 | 33 | At least 30 people including youths and farmers were killed in a reported ENDF strike on two areas near Denda, Amhara, with at least 33 injured. (ACLED) | ● ACLED ETH11266 |
| 25/12/2023 | Ethiopia | Dialo Boro, Kombulcha, Oromia | 8 | 3 | At least 8 people were killed and 3 severely injured in a reported ENDF strike on a church in Dialo Boro village, Kombulcha, Amhara, on Christmas morning. (ACLED, AS) | ● ACLED ETH11353
● News article – Addis Standard. |
| 27/12/2023 | Mali | Tin Bedene, Kidal | 7 | 2 | 7 miners were killed in a reported Malian Air Force drone strike on mining vehicles in Tin Bidene, Kidal. (ACLED, ORTM) |
● ACLED MLI31603 ● News broadcast – ORTM. |
| 5/1/2024 | Mali | Amasrakad, Kidal | 4 | Unknown – ‘several’ | At least 4 civilians were killed and several injured in a reported FAMa drone strike on a civilian encampment in Amasrakad, Kidal. (ACLED, ORTM) | ● ACLED MLI31672
● News broadcast – ORTM.
|
| 5/1/2024 | Mali | Almoustarat, Bourem, Gao | 3 | 3 civilians were killed in a reported FAMa drone strike on a civilian vehicle in Almoustarat, Gao. (ACLED, ORTM) |
● ACLED MLI31686 ● News broadcast – ORTM. |
|
| 9/1/2024 | Sudan | Mayo, Khartoum | 23 | Unknown – ‘many’ | At least 23 civilians were killed in a reported SAF drone strike on Aboja market, Mayo, Khartoum, with many others wounded. (ACLED, SWM) | ● ACLED SUD22385
● Report – Sudan War Monitor. |
| 12/1/2024 | Sudan | Khartoum | 18 | 35 | At least 18 civilians were killed and 35 wounded in a further SAF drone strike on Aboja market, Mayo, Khartoum, with at least 15 civilian homes damaged. (ACLED, RD) | ● ACLED SUD25421
● News article – Radio Dabanga. |
| 3/2/2024 | Mali | Ti-n-Torcha, Kidal | 4 | 2 | At least 4 miners were killed, 2 injured, and a vehicle destroyed in a reported FAMa drone strike on the mining village of Ti-n-Torcha, Kidal. (ACLED, ORTM) | ● ACLED MLI31872
● News broadcast – ORTM (Note: not many details, but presenter says 45km southwest of Tin Zaoutine, which maps to the location of Ti-n-torcha). |
| 13/2/2024 | Mali | Talhandak, Kidal | 7 | 3 | At least 7 Nigerien and Chadian nationals were killed and at least 3 others wounded in a reported overnight FAMa drone strike on a petrol station in Talhandak, Kidal. (ACLED, Twala, X) | ● ACLED MLI31921
● News article – Twala. ● CSP-PSD (Mali) – via Ag Attarikhe, X post.
|
| 19/2/2024 | Ethiopia | Sasit, Amhara | 30-40, | 18 | At least 30 civilians were killed in a reported ENDF drone strike near the town of Sasit, Amhara, including 16 members of a family returning from a child’s baptism. At least 18 were seriously injured. (ACLED, AN) | ● ACLED ETH11691
● News article – Agenzia Nova. |
| 21/2/2024 | Sudan | Sharg An Neel, Khartoum | 4 | 30 | At least 4 civilians were killed and 30 wounded in a reported SAF drone strike on Al Jarif, Khartoum. (ACLED, RD) | ● ACLED SUD26287
● News article – Radio Dabanga. |
| 23/2/2024 | Ethiopia | Gish Abay, Amhara | 1 | 4 | A civilian woman was killed by a suspected ENDF drone strike on her home in Gish Abay, Amhara, while 4 others were severely injured. (ACLED, X) | ● ACLED ETH11727
● X post. ● X post. |
| 17/3/2024 | Mali | Amasrakad, Gao | 13 | About 10 | At least 13 civilians, including women and a healthworker, were killed in a reported FAMa drone strike on the village of Amasrakad. Around 10 others were injured. (ACLED, ORTM, X) | ● ACLED MLI32157
● News broadcast – ORTM ● Local source – X post. |
| 18/03/2024 | Somalia | Jaffey Farm, Lower Shabelle, Somalia
|
At least 23 | At least 23 civilians, including 14 children, were killed in drone strikes on a village in southern Somalia in March of 2024. (AI, ACLED) | ● ACLED SOM43946
● Report – Amnesty International. |
|
| Around 23/03/24 | Mali | Douna | 14 | – | At least 10 children were killed in a reported FAMa drone strike on the village of Douna, near the border with Burkina Faso. (RFI, ACLED) | ● ACLED MLI32160
● News article – RFI.
|
| 12/5/2024 | Ethiopia | Mezezo, Amhara | 4 | – | At least 4 unarmed civilians were killed in an ENDF strike reportedly targeting Fano militants in Mezezo, Amhara. (ACLED, DW) | ● ACLED ETH12454
● News article – Deutsche Welle.
|
| 12/5/2024 | Ethiopia | Kewet, Amhara | 2-7 | At least 9 | Between 2 and 7 civilians were killed and at least 9 others injured in a reported ENDF drone strike on a school in Tere kebele, Amhara, during a parent-teacher meeting, with school buildings damaged. (ACLED, DW) | ● ACLED ETH12455
● News article – Deutsche Welle.
|
| 30/7/2024 | Confederation of Sahel States | Tinzaouatene, Mali | At least 6 | At least 6 civilians were killed in coordinated FAMa and Burkinabe drone attacks in Tinzouatene, near the Algerian border. (ACLED, AN, Reuters) | ● ACLED MLI32813
● News article – Arab News. ● News article – Reuters.
|
|
| 25/8/2024 | Confederation of Sahel States | Tinzaouatene, Mali | 21 | 12+ | At least 21 civilians, including 11 children and a pharmacy worker, were killed in further reported FAMa–Burkinabe drone strikes in Tinzouatene. (ACLED, Le Monde) | ● ACLED MLI32976
● News article – Le Monde.
|
| 05/11/2024 | Ethiopia | Zibist, North Gojam, Amhara | At least 43 | Unknown | At least 43 civilians, including children and a pregnant woman, were killed in ENDF drone strikes on a market and health centre in Zibist, Amhara. (ACLED, VOA) | ● ACLED ETH14019,
● News article – VOA Africa. |
Source glossary
ACLED: Armed Conflict Location and Event Data
AI: Amnesty International
AJ: Al-Jazeera
AM: Addis Maleda (Ethiopia)
AN: Agenzia Nova
ArN: Arab News
AS: Addis Standard (Ethiopia)
DW: Deutsche-Welle
EMS: Ethiopia Media Service*
HRW: Human Rights Watch
OMN: Oromia Media Network (Ethiopia)
ORTM: Office de Radiodiffusion-Télévision du Mali*
RD: Radio Dabanga (Sudan)
RFI: Radio France Internationale
RTB: Radiodiffusion Télévision du Burkina*
SWM: Sudan War Monitor
UNOHCHR: Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
VOA: Voice of America – Africa
**ACLED dataset isolated to countries listed between 1 January 2021 and November 20 2024. https://acleddata.com/. Accessed between July 10 and November 20, 2024. Incidents filtered for explicit references to ‘drone strike’ and presence of civilian casualties. Those referred to as ‘air strike’ included only where the presence of drones is corroborated by other reporting. Other incidents excluded where discrepancies/ambiguities persist.