Are ‘low-cost, high-impact’ drones making Sahel fighters tougher to beat?

Experts say ISIL and al-Qaeda-linked groups use drones to target army positions with IEDs and to gather intelligence.

Drones Over the Nile: Unmanned Aerial Warfare and Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces | Aberfoyle International Security

The growing importance of drones in modern warfare has been amply demonstrated in the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, even though both states still possess manned military aircraft. In Africa, drones have been used extensively in the struggle between Libya’s rival governments, but the first broad use of drones by a “rebel” movement is taking place in Sudan. There, drones are in steady use by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a former state paramilitary that launched attacks on government institutions and the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) on April 15, 2023. Only days after the conflict began, the SAF and other state security institutions declared the RSF “a rebel entity” that was fighting the state and ordered its dissolution (Al-Jazeera, April 17, 2023). [1]

Drones are Changing How Wars Harm Civilians

Drones are rapidly changing war. Without global action, their use will lead to greater civilian harm and expand human suffering in conflict.

Frequently Asked Questions: International humanitarian law and the use of drones in armed conflict

The use of uncrewed vehicles in armed conflicts has grown significantly in recent years, raising humanitarian, legal, operational and security concerns. Armed remotely piloted aircraft – commonly known as “drones” – are now central to many military operations. While most drones are unarmed and used for surveillance or civilian purposes (such as disaster response, mapping or aid delivery), public debate has largely focused on armed drones and their impact on civilians.

Military Drone Proliferation Marks Destabilizing Shift in Africa’s Armed Conflicts

A revolution in unmanned drone systems is reshaping conflicts in Africa, providing militaries tactical advantages but also risks.

Weaponised Skies: The Expansion of Terrorist Drone Use Across Africa

Jama’at Nusrat al Islam wa al Muslimeen (JNIM) in Mali and Burkina Faso

Drones in the African Battlespaces

C/O Futures Book ReviewLisa J. Campbell22 May 2026Addressing in their book an increasingly prescient topic, the co-editors of Drones in the African Battlespaces, have a background of research in security policy, defense, and global arms concerns. Wayne Stephen Coetzee, a senior lecturer in Political Science at the International Programme in Politics and Economics at the University West in Sweden, has focused his research on security politics, emphasizing the interactions between public and priva

Recent Developments in Drone Threats to Humanitarians

The threat of drones to humanitarians is a rising concern. High-profile incidents—such as the fatal multiple-strike attack on an aid convoy in Gaza in April 2024—have made this dynamic an even greater priority for risk managers.Global data on this emerging threat is currently defined by the rapid increase and volume of drone attacks perpetrated by Russian forces in Ukraine, and to a lesser extent, Israeli Defense Forces (IDF). In other contexts, like Sudan, Iraq, and Syria, governments are also the primary perpetrators of drone incidents. Nonetheless, the list of drone operators in complex humanitarian settings has increased and diversified since 2022, particularly among organised armed groups (OAGs), driving further interest within the humanitarian community.

Deadly skies: Drone warfare in Ethiopia and the future of conflict in Africa – European Council on Foreign Relations

Drone warfare is increasing in Ethiopia and across Africa. These foreign-supplied weapons risk prolonging wars and can help drive governments further away from

Sudan drone warfare kills thousands as both sides secure advanced technology - Sudan Tribune

February 17, 2026 (KHARTOUM) – Drones have claimed thousands of lives during the ongoing war between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), with their geographical use expanding across various battles and leading to heavy casualties and the destruction of vital infrastructure. Both parties are intensely competing to acquire various unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technologies to achieve breakthroughs across the country. New types of drones have entered Sudan for the first time during this conflict, including the lethal Chinese-made CH-95 or FH-95 models. Technically, the use of FPV and Kamikaze suicide drones has spread between both sides, with heavy usage observed in Khartoum, Al-Jazirah, El Fasher, and other regions. Former Sudanese Air Force pilots indicate that these drones are used to target troop concentrations, light armour, and snipers, as well as to restrict individual movements. According to technical analysis provided by pilots speaking to Sudan Tribune, the army utilizes various models, including the Iranian-made Mohajer-6, which serves as the backbone of its air wing, alongside Chinese and Turkish Bayraktar drones. Conversely, the RSF employs Chinese models and modified commercial DJI drones capable of carrying 120mm mortar shells. Retired Brigadier General Adel Abdel Latif noted that as the war …

The drones being used in Sudan: 1,000 attacks since April 2023

A visual analysis into the types of drones, sourcing methods, attack locations and the human toll of aerial warfare.

Targeted Small Drone Attacks on Civilians: A Global OSINT Picture

A global OSINT map of targeted small drone attacks on civilians since 2022.

Cheap drones, costly consequences: the legal and humanitarian risks and outcomes of low-tech drone warfare

The article examines the recent and rapid proliferation of cheap, unsophisticated “kamikaze” drones, as well as the legal and moral challenges they present in modern warfare. As countries increasin...

Drones, Wagner Missiles Help RSF Match Sudanese Army’s Might - Africa Defense Forum

ADF STAFF Portable surface-to-air missiles from Russia’s mercenary Wagner Group and weaponized drones are helping Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) level the field in its conflict against the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF). At the outset of the conflict, both sides were closely matched in personnel. But the SAF, armed with planes and heavy weaponry, was

Growing use of deadly drones by Colombian militants terrifies residents

Social media videos verified by NBC News show groups using drones for surveillance, intimidation and bombing campaigns.

Are All Wars Now Drone Wars?

From Sudan to Ukraine, UAVs have upended warfighting tactics and become one of the most destructive weapons of conflict.