Surge in drone strikes across Africa leads to nearly 1,000 civilian deaths — report

A new report by Drone Wars UK has highlighted the alarming rise of military drone strikes across Africa, resulting in nearly 1,000 civilian deaths over the past three years.

The report, titled ‘Death on Delivery’, warns that the uncontrolled spread of armed drones, primarily imported from countries like Turkey, China, and Iran, is exacerbating civilian harm in ongoing conflicts across the continent. Drone strikes have been confirmed in at least six conflicts across the continent — Sudan, Somalia, Nigeria, Mali, Burkina Faso and Ethiopia, where most attacks were recorded. There, over 490 civilians were killed in 26 drone strikes by the Ethiopian government targeting the Tigray People’s Liberation Front. Meanwhile, government-led drone strikes in Mali and Burkina Faso killed at least 64 and 100 civilians, respectively, including drone strikes on densely populated areas, such as the tragic attack in Bouro’s market, which killed at least 28 civilians in August 2023.

While armed drones are touted for their precision, the reality on the ground is far different. Many strikes have killed innocent civilians and failed to achieve their intended military objectives. The use of “medium altitude, long endurance” (MALE) drones, such as Turkey’s Bayraktar TB2, has intensified the toll on civilians, with the report calling for urgent international oversight to prevent further escalation. The MALE drones can be flown remotely for many hours over a large distance, conducting surveillance as well as airstrikes. Drone Wars UK is calling for immediate global action to regulate the proliferation of these weapons, emphasizing that without strict control measures, more lives will be lost. The report underscores that the unchecked growth of drone warfare poses a significant human rights crisis.