Pars Today- A British media informed of the uncontrolled spread of cheap UAVs in Africa.
British daily Guardian wrote in a report that the spread of military drones continues in Africa without any control and nearly 1000 civilians have been killed throughout the continent in the attacks of these drones. According to Pars Today, within the period of October 2021-October 2024, at least 50 fatal attacks have been registered by armed forces in Africa.
ISNA, quoting from Guardian, wrote that most of the military UAVs come to Africa from China and Turkey. According to the military experts, these UAVs are able to fly long distances for long hours for reconnaissance operations and airstrikes.
The usage of military drones has been confirmed in at least 6 regions of conflict in the continent. Guardian adds that Sudan, Mali, Burkina Faso and Ethiopia are among the African countries with the highest drone attacks.
The drone attacks by the Ethiopian armed forces against the groups like “Tigray People’s Liberation Front” (TPLF) have resulted in the death of more than 490 civilians during 26 separate attacks. In other regions, at least 64 civilians have been killed in 9 drone attacks by the armed forces of Mali against separatist groups in the north of the country.
According to the researchers, more than 100 civilians have also been killed in Burkina Faso during the attacks of the army drones.
The usage of these drones in populated regions of Sudan, like Khartoum market, has also caused dire consequences for civilians. The report claims that the Sudanese armed forces have used Chinese and Turkish drones, while the rapid reaction forces have used the drones provided by UAE.
The report adds that the military forces of Burkina Faso have used Turkish “Bayraktar TB2” drones in their combat. Yet, the narrations of field sources, showing a different image, often indicate that these drone attacks incur high civilian casualties. For instance, in an attack to the coastal region in August 2023, drones targeted a market in the village of Buru which killed at least 28 civilians.
Cora Morris, an analyst from “Drone Wars UK” group, said in this regard, “The spread of military drone usage in Ukraine war has been broadly researched, but the increase of using cheaper and imported drones in Africa, including “Bayraktar TB2” has been paid little attention.
RM/UR
