There is a rising call for the military to have stricter controls on their use of drones. Despite claims that these unmanned aerial vehicles can target accurately, they are still responsible for killing civilians.
Nearly 1,000 civilians have lost their lives and many more have sustained injuries due to military drone strikes in Africa, as reported.
Over the past three years leading to November 2024, at least 50 confirmed lethal attacks by armed forces have occurred, highlighting a concerning trend of civilian casualties with minimal accountability.
While the deployment of armed drones by Ukraine and Russia is under intense scrutiny, the rising use of affordable imported drones in Africa, such as Turkey’s Bayraktar TB2, is receiving insufficient attention.
Cora Morris from Drone Wars UK emphasized this issue in a recent report titled “Death on Delivery,” which examines the proliferation of armed drones in Africa.
The report underscores the urgent need for greater awareness and regulation regarding the impact of drone warfare on civilian populations in the region.
Morris said drones “significantly lower the threshold for the use of force, making it much easier for armies to deploy munitions without risk to their own forces”.
“The result of this has been a grave civilian toll,” she told Al Jazeera.
“This must change. Unless the international community moves rapidly towards developing and implementing a new control regime, we are highly likely to see more examples of the killing of civilians from the use of armed drones,” said Morris.
Armed drones have been confirmed in at least six African conflicts: Sudan, Somalia, Nigeria, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Ethiopia, with significant attack occurrences.
The Ethiopian military’s drone strikes against the Tigray People’s Liberation Front have resulted in over 490 civilian deaths across 26 distinct incidents.
The current situation necessitates urgent reform to prevent further loss of innocent lives.
Without swift intervention, the trend of civilian fatalities from drone operations is expected to escalate.
At least 64 civilians were reported dead due to nine drone strikes by Malian armed forces targeting separatist groups in northern Mali.
In Burkina Faso, over 100 civilian fatalities have been attributed to military drone strikes.
A report by Drone Wars UK indicated that since November 2021, more than 940 civilians have been killed by armed drones in Africa, a conservative estimate.
The majority of armed drones utilized in Africa are sourced from Turkey, China, and Iran, raising concerns among researchers.
There is increasing alarm regarding the rising use of medium altitude, long endurance (MALE) drones across the continent.
Ref: https://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/reach-s-medium-altitude-long-endurance-male-uav-uae/
Drones can be operated remotely for extended periods, covering vast distances while performing surveillance and executing airstrikes.
The rise of armed drones in African conflicts is evident in Sudan’s civil war, particularly in densely populated regions like Khartoum’s markets, leading to severe civilian impacts.
The Sudanese military has utilized drones from Iran, China, and Turkey, while the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have employed drones supplied by the UAE.
The deployment of these drones raises significant concerns regarding civilian safety and the humanitarian implications of their use in urban areas.
The report highlights the escalating risks associated with drone warfare in the context of ongoing conflicts in Africa.
The Burkinabè military has utilized Bayraktar TB2 drones in combating jihadist insurgents. State media frequently lauds the “neutralization” of terrorists through advanced drone technology. Ground reports, however, indicate a contrasting reality with significant civilian casualties.
An August 2023 incident in Bouro resulted in drone strikes on a market, claiming at least 28 civilian lives. The government promotes drone warfare as a sign of military advancement and control over territories. This portrayal suggests a highly effective military operation against insurgents. Research conducted on-site challenges this narrative, revealing the impact on innocent civilians.
Erratic bombings contribute to increased destruction and insecurity in affected communities. The perception of drone warfare as precise and efficient is questioned by local experiences. The situation underscores the complexities and consequences of modern military engagements.
Source: Theguardian, ISSafrica-Image, Al Jazeera – Image
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