How drones have strengthened terrorist groups in Africa

Experts from the United Nations Organization say for the Voice of America that terrorist groups in Africa are increasing the use of drones to carry out operations that could previously only be carried out by the armies of these countries. VOA takes a look at the difficulties facing some African countries, from Somalia to the Sahel, in dealing with insurgencies. This drone footage, which VOA has not been able to independently verify, is believed to show al-Shabab attacking an airport in Kenya in 2021. It also appears to show footage of an attack coordinated drone strikes in Mali and Nigeria by the armed Islamist militant group JNIM and the so-called Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). According to United Nations experts, terrorist groups in Africa linked to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State are increasingly using commercial drones to carry out operations. “These aerial vehicles allow them to have a better view of the battlefield and operational environments. They also provide them with a new way to gather intelligence and plan and coordinate attacks, sometimes on a more sophisticated scale. high accuracy and casualties,” says Barbara Morais Figueiredo, of the UN Institute on Disarmament Affairs. Experts point out that armies fighting …