How off-the-shelf drones are changing jihadist warfare in West Africa

BBC News - WorldEN 4 min read 100% complete February 9, 2026 at 01:09 AM

AI Summary

long article 4 min

Jihadist groups in West Africa are increasingly using commercially available drones for attacks and reconnaissance. Since 2023, an al-Qaeda affiliate has conducted at least 69 drone strikes in Burkina Faso and Mali, while Islamic State (IS) affiliates have carried out around 20, primarily in Nigeria. These groups, particularly the Islamic State of West Africa Province (Iswap), utilize inexpensive quadcopter drones rigged with explosives, obtained through smuggling networks across porous borders. The drones lower the cost of attacks, enable intelligence gathering, and allow strikes on previously unreachable military targets. Iswap has carried out drone strikes in Nigeria, Cameroon, Niger, and Chad, while the Islamic State of Sahel Province (ISSP) has also conducted a similar number of attacks in West Africa.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

al-Qaeda 40% Borno 50% Burkina Faso 50% Mali 50% Audu Bulama Bukarti 50% Lake Chad 60% Sahel 60% Ladd Serwat ×260% Islamic State of Sahel Province (ISSP) ×270% Nigeria ×680% Acled ×480% Islamic State of West Africa Province (Iswap) ×390%

Keywords

drone warfare 90% jihadist groups 80% west africa 80% drone strikes 70% commercial drones 60% islamic state 60% smuggling networks 50% surveillance drones 50% insurgent groups 40% military base 40%