Since reporting for the BBC from Iraq in 2016, where I witnessed ISIS deploy drones to lethal effect, I’ve tracked the evolving use of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) by non-state armed groups. In this short ISS Africa briefing, we examine how drones—both military-grade and commercial off-the-shelf (COTS)—are being used across the African continent.

While the war in Ukraine has inspired the adaptation of drone technology globally, in Africa, armed groups are using drones less for lethal attacks and more for influence. Possessing a drone—even without deploying it in combat—can project power, shift diplomatic dynamics, and offer a potent tool for visual propaganda. The study explores how drones have become symbols of technological prowess, instruments of psychological warfare, and tools for content gathering, particularly in fragile states where state control over airspace and information is weak.

“Possessing a drone—even without deploying it—can project power, shift diplomatic dynamics, and serve as a potent propaganda tool.”

As drones become cheaper and knowledge more transferable, the risks of misuse multiply. This study underscores the need for greater awareness and research into the propaganda value of drone ownership and the ways it reshapes narratives of power on the continent.

Estimates are that nine non-state armed groups in Africa have acquired military-grade drones

Originally published on ISS Africa.