Nigeria: ISWAP extremists launching attack drones

Nigeria’s armed groups are entering the drone age and the state must respond - Africa at LSE

Following the Christmas Day airstrikes by the US, terrorist groups in northern Nigeria are becoming more defiant and are embracing new technology, writes Ezenwa Olumba. Counter-terrorism strategy will need to adapt to this new reality. On Christmas Day 2025, US President Donald Trump ordered air and drone strikes against insurgent groups in Sokoto State in

Sahel militants turn civilian drones into deadly weapons | ISS Africa

As armed groups shift away from direct confrontations with the military, commercial drones are increasingly used to carry out attacks.

Weaponised Skies: The Expansion of Terrorist Drone Use Across Africa

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

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

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]

Army acquires 43 drones, wings 46 Turkey-trained personnel

The Federal Government has bolstered the Nigerian Army’s operational capacity with the acquisition of 43 Bayraktar TB2 drones, primarily for deployment in

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.

Moving Targets: Implications of the Russo-Ukrainian War for Drone Terrorism - Combating Terrorism Center at West Point

Abstract: Small and commercially available drones in the hands of violent extremists pose a rapidly growing terrorist threat. This article examines that threat in the light of the invasion of Ukraine. Consumer drones such as DJI Mavics, FPV racing drones, and Shahed-style one-way attack drones have become potent weapons. Their affordability, accessibility, and adaptability enable … Continued

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 …

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

Turkish Drone Strikes: Acts of State Terrorism

Turkey is emerging as one of the leading countries in the world when it comes to using military drones, especially

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.

African Nations Turn to AI, Drones to Secure Borders - Africa Defense Forum

South Africa has joined Ethiopia, Kenya, Sudan and Tunisia in deploying advanced technology, such as artificial intelligence and drones, to enhance border security.  South Africa’s technology upgrade includes four quadcopter drones to monitor locations known for illegal crossings. The drones can operate around the clock and use infrared cameras to track people crossing at night.

The ungoverned sky: Drones and the domestic extremist threat

The combination of easy accessibility and payload potential, and the limitations of domestic counter-drone systems, presents a growing challenge.

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.