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Jihadist groups escalate drone attacks in West Africa
Militant organizations linked to al-Qaeda and Islamic State are increasingly deploying explosive-laden drones across the Sahel and Lake Chad regions, signaling a dangerous evolution in their combat tactics, violence monitors report.
Rapid expansion of drone programs
The Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (Acled) has documented at least 69 drone strikes by al-Qaeda's affiliate Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) in Burkina Faso and Mali since 2023. Meanwhile, Islamic State (IS) factions have executed approximately 20 attacks, primarily in Nigeria, where insurgencies have persisted for nearly 25 years.
On January 29, Islamic State's West Africa Province (Iswap) launched a coordinated assault on a military base in Nigeria's Borno state, combining armed drones with ground forces. The Nigerian military confirmed nine soldiers killed in the attack, which Acled described as part of Iswap's growing expertise in "drone warfare."
Tactics and supply chains
Jihadist groups typically modify commercially available quadcopter drones-relatively inexpensive and widely accessible-to carry explosives, according to Ladd Serwat, Acled's senior Africa analyst. These drones also serve reconnaissance purposes, scouting targets before ground operations.
Despite Nigeria's strict regulations on drone imports and usage, militants circumvent restrictions through smuggling networks exploiting porous regional borders, explained Malik Samuel, a senior researcher at Good Governance Africa.
"The growing use of armed and surveillance drones by violent extremist groups marks a significant shift. Drones reduce attack costs, enable low-risk intelligence gathering, and allow strikes on previously inaccessible military targets."
Audu Bulama Bukarti, security analyst
Regional impact and civilian casualties
Iswap has conducted 10 drone strikes since 2024, targeting not only northeastern Nigeria but also northern Cameroon, southern Niger, and southern Chad. Another IS affiliate, the Islamic State of Sahel Province (ISSP), carried out a January 29 attack on Niger's capital, Niamey, striking the international airport and nearby military installations. While the defense ministry reported four soldiers injured and 20 militants killed, conflicting accounts suggest drones may have been used-a first for ISSP in Niger.
JNIM remains the most active drone operator, with 69 recorded strikes in Mali and Burkina Faso, plus one in Togo. Acled's Héni Nsaibia noted the group's program has "developed rapidly," leveraging interconnected networks across both countries. In February 2025, JNIM deployed first-person view (FPV) drones in Burkina Faso's Djibo town, dropping plastic-bottle improvised explosives on military positions-a tactic inspired by Ukraine's conflict, according to Military Africa.
While most attacks target military forces and allied militias, some have struck civilians. Nsaibia reported JNIM drone strikes on markets in communities perceived as pro-government, while Iswap's sole recorded civilian attack killed two pastoralists in northern Cameroon in June 2025.
Countermeasures and future risks
Taiwo Adebayo, a researcher at the Institute for Security Studies, warned in a 2025 report that West African militaries must act preemptively to dismantle drone assembly sites and invest in counter-drone technology, including jamming devices and air defense systems. Without intervention, he cautioned, jihadist groups could refine their capabilities, launching "high-impact assaults" that deepen regional instability.
Samuel emphasized that militants continuously adapt, transitioning from roadside bombs to drone warfare after training from foreign fighters. "Drones minimize jihadist casualties while increasing attack precision," he said.
