Africa is witnessing a surge in drone activity as various countries seek to acquire and deploy unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for military purposes. The continent has become a new playground for drone exporters, especially Turkey, China, and Israel, who are taking advantage of the growing appetite of African militaries for low-cost and effective combat aircraft.
According to a report by the German analytics firm Drone Industry Insights, Africa’s share of global drone deliveries increased from 13 percent in 2022 to 32 percent in the first half of 2023, while Europe’s share fell from 17 percent to 9 percent in the same period. The report also projected that the drone market would reach $41.3 billion by 2026, a 9.4 percent compound annual growth.
One of the main drivers of this trend is the increasing involvement of external actors in Africa’s conflicts, such as the United Arab Emirates, Iran, and Russia, who have supplied drones to their allies or proxies in Libya, Ethiopia, Sudan, and other hotspots. Drones have proven to be effective weapons in asymmetric warfare, capable of striking targets with precision and avoiding air defenses.
Another factor is the desire of African governments to enhance their security and sovereignty, especially in the face of terrorist threats, separatist movements, and cross-border challenges. Drones can provide valuable intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities, as well as strike options, for countries that lack advanced air forces or satellite systems.
Turkey, China, and Israel are the leading exporters of drones to Africa, offering models that are comparable in performance and cost to the US-made MQ-9 Reaper, the most widely used armed drone in the world. Turkey’s Bayraktar TB2 and China’s Wing Loong and CH4 drones have a wingspan of around 12 meters, a flight time of over 20 hours, and can carry four laser-guided missiles each. Israel’s Heron and Hermes drones are similar in size and range but are mainly used for surveillance.
These countries have also adopted a flexible and pragmatic approach to selling drones to Africa, unlike the US and some European countries, which have imposed strict export controls and human rights criteria on their drone transfers. Turkey, China, and Israel have also provided training, maintenance, and operational support to their African customers, as well as technology transfer and joint production agreements in some cases.
Some of the African countries that have acquired drones from these sources include Nigeria, Angola, Togo, Niger, Burkina Faso, Mali, Senegal, Chad, Algeria, Morocco, Egypt, Libya, Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Africa. Some of these countries have used drones in combat operations against insurgents, rebels, or foreign forces, while others have used them for border security, anti-poaching, disaster management, or civilian applications.
However, the proliferation of drones in Africa also raises some concerns and challenges, such as the risk of civilian casualties, the lack of transparency and accountability, the potential for escalation and regional instability, and the legal and ethical implications of drone warfare. Moreover, some experts warn that drones are not a silver bullet for Africa’s security problems and that they should be complemented by political dialogue, good governance, and development.
As the demand for drones in Africa continues to grow, so does the need for a comprehensive and coherent regulatory framework, both at the national and regional levels, to ensure that drones are used responsibly and lawfully and that their benefits outweigh their costs. Africa also needs to develop its drone industry, to reduce its dependence on external suppliers and to foster innovation and job creation.
Source: Le Monde
