Concerns are growing across Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso over the increasing use of drones by armed groups, as relatively inexpensive unmanned aircraft become a new tool in conflicts that have destabilised Africa’s Sahel region for years.
A Nigerien security source told Erem News that armed groups are increasingly using drones both in attacks and to conduct surveillance of military positions before launching operations.
The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said authorities in Niger were holding advanced discussions on ways to counter the threat.
The concern extends beyond Niger to neighbouring Mali and Burkina Faso, where drones are no longer used exclusively by national armed forces, the source said.
“Russian partners have also recognised this, and training is being conducted with them on how to counter these aircraft,” the source added.
Low-cost weapon
The spread of drones comes as armed group activity continues to rise across the Sahel.
Data cited by Erem News from the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project, or ACLED, showed the number of incidents involving armed groups in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger rising sharply over the past decade, from 63 events in 2016 to 2,845 in 2025. More than 2,100 incidents were recorded during the first months of 2026, according to the report.
Military analyst Amr Diallo said the growing use of drones was partly driven by their relatively low cost and accessibility.
“Armed groups acquire these aircraft through the black market,” Diallo told Erem News, adding that drones allow fighters to monitor military bases and barracks in countries including Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso before launching attacks.
Diallo said Al Qaeda-linked Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin, or JNIM, had emerged as one of the most active users of drones in the region.
He cited ACLED data indicating the group carried out more than 80 drone-related attacks in 2025.
The development should encourage Sahel states to restore stronger regional security coordination and develop a joint response to the threat, he said.
Growing battlefield threat
Armed groups still rely heavily on conventional tactics including ambushes, roadside bombs and suicide attacks, but analysts say drones are adding a new dimension to their operations.
Africa analyst Ibrahim Habibou said unmanned aircraft allow armed groups to carry explosives and attack targets without directly exposing fighters, while also providing intelligence and surveillance capabilities.
“The problem is that other organisations have entered the race to acquire drones,” Habibou told Erem News, pointing to attempts by Islamic State-linked groups to expand their own drone capabilities.
The proliferation of the technology is making the security environment increasingly complex, analysts say, as armed organisations gain access to capabilities once largely restricted to state militaries.
The growing use of drones also comes as governments across the Sahel struggle to contain insurgencies that have displaced millions of people and undermined security across large parts of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger.
