Sahel militants expand drone warfare capabilities

Militants across the Sahel are increasingly deploying armed drones, transforming regional insurgencies, AFP reports. In Mali, Tuareg separatists used drones against Russian paramilitary and Malian armed forces. In February, the rebels said they used a drone to down an army helicopter, though the military denied the claim. Jihadists in Burkina Faso have deployed grenade-dropping UAVs and "suicide drones" targeting military bases.

Once limited to surveillance and propaganda, drones have become an affordable and lethal tool for armed groups. "It was only a matter of time," notes Wassim Nasr of the Soufan Center, citing their growing accessibility.

Regional armies, which have long dominated the skies, now face a rising drone threat. While Burkina Faso’s junta leader is seen with anti-drone security, military forces across the region lack adequate countermeasures. With militants largely confined to rural areas, experts warn that drones could enable deeper strikes into cities, potentially shifting the balance of power in the Sahelian insurgencies.