African nations changing the nature of warfare with cheaper drones
African governments have in the past few years increasingly turned to drones from companies such as Turkey's Baykar and Beijing's Aviation Industry Corp. of China, in a bid to bolster military capabilities while grappling with financial constraints.
These drones, often acquired through bilateral security agreements, offer a cost-effective alternative to traditional fighter jets. However, data reveals a rise in civilian deaths resulting from drone and air strikes across the continent, Bloomberg reports.
According to data from the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project, civilian deaths from drone and air strikes surged to 1,418 in 2023 from 149 in 2020. This alarming trend has sparked concerns among experts regarding the use of drone technology and its impact on civilian populations.
Associate Professor at the US Defense Department's Africa Center for Strategic Studies, Nathan Allen, emphasized that the issue lies not in the technology itself but in how it is deployed. “It’s not about the technology, it’s about how they’re used, and we’re seeing a pattern of them being used in ways that are causing an awful lot of harm to civilians,” said Allen.
Corinne Dufka, an independent analyst on the Sahel, highlighted the failure to distinguish between civilians and military targets, particularly evident in drone attacks on crowded markets and funerals.
Dufka notes that “The failure to distinguish civilians from military targets has long been a feature of ground operations. The killing of scores of civilians during drone attacks on crowded markets and funerals, especially in Burkina Faso, suggests the same could be true in the conduct of air ops.
A 2022 paper by Allen revealed that over a third of African countries had acquired drones, with the vast majority, if not all, possessing the technology for surveillance or combat purposes. While drones offer a more affordable option compared to fighter jets, their deployment has led to devastating consequences, particularly in conflict-ridden regions such as Burkina Faso and Mali.
In Burkina Faso, civilian fatalities have soared, with government-led drone strikes resulting in numerous civilian deaths, as documented by Human Rights Watch.
Similar incidents have been reported in Nigeria, where a drone strike during a religious ceremony claimed the lives of at least 85 people. "It is grave and regrettable. We will do everything possible to prevent such an occurrence from happening again in the conduct of our operations going forward," Head of the Nigerian Army, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja said.
Despite the potential benefits of drones in combating rebellions and insurgencies, concerns persist regarding pilot training and intelligence failures. Abdisalam Guled, former deputy director of Somalia's National Intelligence and Security Agency, emphasized the need for increased responsibility and regulations to protect civilians.
In Ethiopia, TB2 drones obtained through a bilateral agreement with Turkey in 2021 played a pivotal role in the military's triumph over Tigrayan rebels. Subsequently, the government has utilized these drones to quell uprisings in the Oromia and Amhara regions.
Sudan is no different. The Rapid Support Forces militia, engaged in a power struggle with the national army, has escalated its tactics with the use of sophisticated weaponry. UN investigators report that the militia is deploying combat drones supplied by the United Arab Emirates. Despite denials from the UAE regarding arming the RSF, the militia's rival, Sudan's army, has turned to Iranian Mohajer drones in response.
Meanwhile, non-state actors have also begun employing drones for their agendas. In Nigeria and the Sahel region, jihadist groups affiliated with al-Qaeda or the Islamic State have been observed affixing improvised explosive devices to commercially available drones or utilizing them for surveillance purposes.
