The Sahel is facing a dramatic escalation in conflict as the al-Qaeda-affiliated group Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM) ramps up its use of weaponized drones, delivering a new level of asymmetrical warfare that is overwhelming regional armies.
This warning comes from a detailed report released Tuesday by the Policy Center for the New South (PCNS), authored by security analysts Rida Lyammouri and Niccola Milnes.
The report documents over 30 confirmed drone attacks since JNIM’s first recorded strike in September 2023 in Mali. Alarming developments show that more than 80% of these incidents occurred between March and July 2025, highlighting the group’s rapid tactical evolution.
The strikes have primarily targeted military sites in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Togo, with increasing signs of operational expansion into Niger and Benin.
Among the deadliest attacks was one in June 2025 in Boulkessi, Mali, where several dozen soldiers lost their lives. In April, five Togolese troops were killed in a similar assault, followed by another devastating strike in May in Eknewane, Niger, which claimed the lives of 41 Nigerien personnel.
“JNIM has transformed drones into weapons of asymmetric warfare,” said Rida Lyammouri. “Without a coordinated response, the threat will soon exceed the control capabilities of states.”
The jihadist group has been modifying commercially available drones, including DJI and FPV models, to carry explosive payloads.
These drones are guided using offline artificial intelligence algorithms, designed to evade jamming systems and optimize target accuracy.
The attacks are often filmed and broadcast online to amplify psychological warfare against state forces.
Regional armies, despite recent modernization efforts, are struggling to counter this emerging threat.
The report reveals a lack of adequate detection systems and a fragmented response strategy, leaving troops exposed and vulnerable.
The PCNS report urges the establishment of a regional anti-drone task force.
It also recommends investment in cost-effective countermeasures such as jamming technologies, visual decoys, and improved camouflage techniques for field units. Training troops in drone avoidance and survival tactics has also been deemed critical.
The Sahel, long considered a flashpoint of global jihadism, is now experiencing an unsettling technological shift in its security landscape.
In response, Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso—now aligned under the Confederation of Sahel States—have announced plans to deploy a joint force of 5,000 soldiers to unify their military response to terrorism.
Each country has acquired armed drones from Turkish manufacturer Baykar, signaling an intensification of drone warfare on both sides.
However, analysts warn that without a unified and technologically adaptive approach, the states remain on the back foot against a fast-evolving insurgency.
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