Jihadist groups across West Africa are rapidly transforming cheap commercial drones into deadly weapons, ushering in a new phase of warfare from the skies. Data from conflict monitor ACLED shows dozens of drone strikes since 2023, led by al-Qaeda-linked JNIM in Mali and Burkina Faso, alongside Islamic State affiliates operating in Nigeria and the wider Lake Chad region. These groups are rigging off-the-shelf quadcopters with explosives and using them for surveillance ahead of coordinated ground assaults, including a recent deadly attack on a Nigerian military base. Analysts warn that drones are lowering attack costs while expanding militants’ reach, making once-secure targets vulnerable. Without urgent counter-drone measures, experts fear the technology could dramatically escalate instability across the region.
BBC
