Africa: Drones - a Propaganda Tool for Africa's Armed Groups?

Ukraine's recent drone attack on Russia highlights the power of weaponized drones. This trend is also growing in Africa, where local drone manufacturing and use are expanding. Various armed groups are now deploying drones for multiple purposes, including combat and propaganda.

Currently, about nine armed groups in Africa have military-grade drones. These groups are located in Burkina Faso, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Kenya, Libya, Mali, Mozambique, Nigeria, Somalia, and Sudan. This indicates a rising interest in using drones for various tasks.

Experts note that violent non-state actors use drones to generate propaganda. They showcase their aerial capabilities and operational successes through striking visuals. African nations should recognize how technology allows these groups to project power both in the air and on land.

Drones are becoming more affordable and accessible to armed groups. The transfer of knowledge among these groups increases the likelihood of drone integration into their arsenals. Groups like Islamic State were early adopters of drone technology in the Middle East.

In Africa, armed groups began using hobbyist and commercial drones later than those in the Middle East. However, the Ukraine-Russia war has inspired many state and non-state actors to adapt this technology. Ukraine's Operation Spider's Web demonstrated large-scale drone warfare with 117 smuggled drones targeting Russian infrastructure.

Drones not only cause physical harm but also serve as powerful propaganda tools. Non-state armed groups utilize them for influence in two main ways. First, claiming to use UAS sends a strong psychological message during an arms race among proxies supplying these technologies.

Second, UAS gather information through video and audio for online sharing. In Yemen, the Houthi group has effectively used drone warfare for tactical gains and propaganda success. Their achievements may inspire similar actions from allied groups in Somalia.

The symbolic value of owning UAVs is significant for many armed groups. For instance, Islamic State uses drone imagery extensively as part of its propaganda efforts. Drones operated by non-state actors can challenge state authority over airspace.

Al-Shabaab has also leveraged drone technology for propaganda purposes. In 2016, they showcased a downed military-grade drone on their news channels as a demonstration of power. Similarly, video footage from attacks can enhance their psychological operations.

In the Sahel region, Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province are experimenting with UAV-propagated videos too. Such content serves recruitment purposes while showcasing technological prowess to boost legitimacy and funding opportunities.

In the DRC, research found that the Allied Democratic Forces used UAS to create propaganda videos about their camps based on interviews conducted by UN experts there.

AI further enhances these propaganda efforts by allowing rapid publication of imagery online. This helps streamline production and dissemination processes for non-state actors' messaging campaigns.

The UN Security Council has addressed UAS misuse through various resolutions but needs to focus more on monitoring risks while recognizing developmental benefits from drone technology. Initiatives like the Berlin Memorandum aim to counter terrorist use of unmanned systems through public outreach efforts.

However, Africa faces challenges with weapons smuggling that includes illicit trade in drone parts needing further investigation. The difficulty major powers face detecting smuggled drones underscores their effectiveness as weapons systems today.