A drone in flight over the Sahel, symbolizing aerial combat and surveillance in the ongoing conflict.
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