The rapid adoption of drones is transforming Africa’s security landscape, presenting both opportunities and risks. Across the continent, drones are revolutionizing industries such as agriculture, mining, medical supply delivery, and infrastructure monitoring. However, just like in other parts of the world, insurgent and terrorist groups are also exploiting this technology for intelligence gathering, attacks, and propaganda. The affordability and accessibility of UAVs have granted non-state actors airpower once reserved for state militaries—reshaping conflict dynamics across Africa.
As drone technology spreads, its use by non-state actors has raised serious security concerns. Hobbyist drones, available for as little as a few hundred dollars, are being used for reconnaissance, while more advanced models are modified to deliver explosive payloads. The continent’s vast and often difficult-to-secure regions provide ideal conditions for militant groups to leverage UAV technology. From Al-Shabaab in East Africa to ISWAP in the Lake Chad Basin and JNIM in the Sahel, extremist groups have integrated drones into their operations, mirroring tactics used in conflict zones across the Middle East and Europe. Additionally, knowledge-sharing networks—such as jihadist ties to the Islamic State (IS)—have accelerated the development of drone capabilities among insurgent groups, further intensifying security challenges.
Image: Drone Industry Insights
As UAV adoption grows, non-state actors gain new tactical advantages, shifting the balance of power in African conflict zones. This trend complicates counterterrorism efforts and demands that security forces adapt to evolving aerial threats. The geographic spread of these groups presents another challenge, as drone proliferation spans multiple regions with distinct security landscapes. Addressing this evolving threat requires a comprehensive approach that integrates counter-UAS strategies, regulatory frameworks, and technological advancements.
Drones on the Attack: Key Strikes Across Africa
The use of drones by insurgent and terrorist groups has been observed in multiple conflict zones across Africa. The incidents below provide a glimpse into the evolving drone threat across the continent. While these cases provide only a snapshot of drone-related attacks in the region, they highlight the growing capabilities of non-state actors and illustrate how different organizations have adapted UAV technology to their strategic needs.
Sudan
The conflict in Sudan has seen a significant increase in drone warfare, expanding the geographic reach of hostilities. The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) have conducted over 280 drone strikes, with nearly all (98%) targeting Khartoum state. In contrast, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have carried out at least 10 drone strikes but employ them more strategically, targeting SAF-controlled areas to stretch defenses and create a persistent threat. Unlike the SAF, which uses drones to support ground offensives, the RSF leverages them to weaken SAF positions in areas previously considered secure.
Since May, RSF drone strikes and attempted attacks have targeted military camps, airbases, and airports in states such as River Nile, White Nile, and Gedaref—regions far from active frontlines. The most striking example occurred on July 31, 2024, when an RSF drone targeted a military ceremony in Red Sea State in an assassination attempt on SAF Commander Burhan, killing five servicemen. The attack, deep within SAF-controlled territory, highlights the growing reach of drone warfare in Sudan.
Somalia and Kenya
Al-Shabaab has actively used drones to facilitate and execute attacks in East Africa. The January 2020 attack on Manda Bay marked a critical moment, as Al-Shabaab leveraged drones to gather intelligence and coordinate a large-scale assault on a U.S. military base in Kenya, killing three Americans. More recently, in February 2025, Somali National Army forces intercepted two Al-Shabaab drones engaged in reconnaissance over Galgaduud, raising concerns about potential drone-assisted strikes. The group’s ability to capture and repurpose sophisticated UAVs (such as a U.S.-made ScanEagle drone in 2022) further underscores its growing interest in enhancing drone warfare capabilities.
al-Shabab attack on Kenya’s Manda Bay Airfield
Nigeria and the Lake Chad Basin
ISWAP has used drones not only for surveillance but also to coordinate deadly attacks. In July 2022, the group deployed a drone to track a Nigerian military convoy, allowing it to launch a highly effective ambush in Gubio that resulted in significant military casualties. In December 2024 the group attacked two Nigerian army bases with grenade-strapped drones, injuring five soldiers.
Boko Haram Militants Attack Two Nigerian Army Bases with Granade-strapped Drones
Mali, Burkina Faso, and the Sahel
JNIM has taken drone warfare to the next level by conducting direct drone attacks. In February 2025, the group carried out its first recorded First-Person-View (FPV) drone strikes in Burkina Faso’s Djibo town, marking a significant shift in how insurgents in the Sahel engage their adversaries. These FPV drones, a technology widely used in the Ukrainian conflict, enable precise targeting and allow militants to inflict damage remotely with minimal risk. Furthermore, JNIM’s capture of a drone from the Wagner Group or its successor, Africa Corps, in Kidal in 2024 suggests that it is actively acquiring advanced UAV technology to enhance its operational reach.
Mozambique
Ahlu-Sunnah wal-Jamaa (ASWJ), the Islamic State affiliate in Mozambique, has used drones to support large-scale assaults. During the March 2021 attack on Palma, drones played a critical role in guiding ASWJ fighters toward key government and foreign business targets, exacerbating the chaos of the offensive. Previously, in May 2020, ASWJ had employed drones during its assault on Mocimboa de Praia, using them to identify security force positions before overrunning the town. These incidents underscore how UAVs are becoming a force multiplier for insurgents in Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado province, making counterinsurgency operations increasingly difficult.
Securing Africa’s Skies: The Urgent Need for Counter-Drone Solutions
The increasing use of drones by militant groups presents a growing security challenge for African governments and militaries, forcing them to reconsider their defensive strategies and invest in countermeasures. Recent years have seen a shift in how African nations perceive the drone threat, with governments increasingly adopting advanced counter-drone technologies.
While awareness of drone threats has grown substantially, the implementation of effective counter-unmanned aerial systems (C-UAS) remains uneven across the continent. Many nations are navigating the complex balance between security necessities and resource realities, working to develop capabilities that match their specific defense needs that incorporate:
- Cost-Effective and affordable Solutions that provide strong protection without excessive financial strain.
- User-Friendly and Autonomous Technologies: can be easy to install and operate, reducing reliance on highly specialized personnel.
- Adaptability to Rapid Technological Advances: As drone technology evolves, counter-UAV systems must be flexible and capable of addressing new threats as they emerge.
- Stronger Regulatory Frameworks: establishment of comprehensive policies governing drone use, including licensing, tracking, and penalties for unauthorized UAV operations.
Countering the Drone Threats in Africa with Precision: Sentrycs’ Advanced C-UAS Solution
As drone threats continue to evolve across Africa, security forces require sophisticated yet practical countermeasures. Sentrycs offers an advanced C-UAS solution tailored to Africa’s distinct security and operational challenges. With systems already successfully deployed across the region, Sentrycs delivers a proven and effective drone defense solution, combining advanced capabilities with operational ease.
Using passive detection methods, the system accurately identifies, tracks, and defeats unauthorized drones—eliminating false alarms while precisely locating their operators. Sentrycs takes control of unauthorized drones and safely redirects them to designated landing zones. This non-destructive approach prevents collateral damage and ensures uninterrupted communications, navigation systems, and authorized drone operations.
The Sentrycs solution provides continuous protection in any environment, demonstrating high performance in both urban and remote settings. Its seamless integration with existing security infrastructure allows for efficient deployment and adaptability to diverse operational needs. Its flexible configurations support diverse security applications. Additionally, its intuitive command interface and autonomous capabilities require minimal human intervention, significantly enhancing operational efficiency. This ensures that security personnel can focus on broader mission objectives without the burden of constant manual system oversight.
By addressing affordability, ease of use, technological superiority and adaptability Sentrycs empowers African nations to deploy effective, scalable drone defense solutions that align with security priorities and resource constraints. Backed by successful deployments, Sentrycs provides the technological edge necessary to counter evolving aerial threats while ensuring practical and sustainable security operations across the continent.
References:
- Mille Radovic, “Leapfrogging into the Future: Drones in Sub-Saharan Africa”, in: Drone Industry Insight, August 2019
- Sam Cranny-Evans, “Non-state actors embrace drones in the Middle East and Africa”, European Security & Defense, February 2025
- Drone warfare reaches deeper into Sudan as peace talks stall, in: ACLED, August 2024
- Death on Delivery – Drone Proliferation and Civilian Harm in Africa, Drone Wars UK, March 2025
- Africa’s insurgents and terrorists are adopting drones, in: Military Africa, February 2025