SECURITY experts in Africa are expressing heightened concerns regarding the escalating use of drones by terrorist groups across the continent and questioning the preparedness of government forces to counteract their increasing sophistication.
A recent report from the Institute for Security Studies revealed that African terrorist organisations are leveraging global affiliations to acquire and adapt drones for their specific needs. Although these drones have not yet been employed in direct attacks, analysts are apprehensive about the potential long-term impact on the balance of power between these groups and governments.
The report highlights that while global attention has been focused on the utilisation of unmanned aerial systems in the Middle East, particularly in Iraq and Syria, drones are now becoming integral to the toolkit of violent actors across Africa. Groups like Boko Haram, Islamic State West Africa Province, and al-Shabab are reportedly acquiring and modifying drones for various purposes, leveraging social media and messaging platforms for knowledge-sharing with entities like al-Qaida and Islamic State.
Affordability is cited as a contributing factor to this growing trend. Kabiru Adamu, an analyst for Beacon Security in Nigeria, expresses concern about the potential empowerment of terror groups through drone technology. He emphasises the challenges faced by security operations in the region and points out instances of military encounters with unmanned aerial vehicles mainly used for surveillance.
Adamu told VOA, ‘It creates another layer of challenge for the already challenged security operations that are in that region. Even though that has more or less been restricted to locations around the Middle East and some parts of Asia, but we’ve also seen indications of that happening in the Lake Chad basin.’
Terror groups commonly use drones for propaganda, intelligence gathering, and reconnaissance purposes. The affordability of this technology poses a significant threat, prompting a call for urgent development of sophisticated defences.
Despite air force chiefs acknowledging the urgency during a recent meeting in Senegal, the report suggests that African countries currently lack the capacity to effectively address the problem. Adamu concurs, stating, ‘It will shock you that we do not have any sanctioned or certified methods for mitigating aerial attacks in the country using unmanned aerial vehicles at the moment.’
Last year, Islamic State West Africa Province used drones for propaganda videos and surveillance, showcasing the group’s evolving tactics. Analysts stress the need for African nations to develop domestic strategies before contemplating regional and continental responses. Chidi Omeje, a security analyst, underscores the gravity of the situation, also telling VOA, ‘They’re watching and learning. So it’s a very serious development, it’s something that the subregion military groups should take particular interest in.’
However, experts point out that Nigeria, a key player in the region, currently lacks a coherent policy to combat armed groups’ use of drones, highlighting the urgency for a comprehensive and coordinated approach.
