Research by Drone Wars UK has revealed the extent of civilian harm caused by military drone strikes across African states, including Ethiopia, Mali, Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Somalia and Sudan. ‘Death on Delivery’, our latest report, highlights mounting civilian death tolls in states newly operating imported MALE-type armed drones across the continent, from manufacturers in Turkey, China, and Iran.

At an absolute minimum, it found, more than 943 civilians have been killed in at least 50 separate incidents between November 2021 and November 2024. Of the six states investigated, five have been verified as operating Bayraktar TB-2 drones produced by Turkish drone manufacturer Baykar, with several also operating Chinese Wing Loong II and Iranian Mohajer-6 armed drones. Most are engaged in ongoing domestic military campaigns against armed insurgent groups, but regularly fail to distinguish between civilians and combatants in their operations.

The report highlights a case study for each country, pointing to the grave consequences of drone warfare for local communities and the families of victims. In one incident in Ethiopia’s Amhara region, more than 85 civilians were killed in a drone strike on the village of Ch’obi, in October 2022. In another, in Nigeria, an ‘error’ of military intelligence killed at least 85 – and, according to some reports, as many as 125 – civilians gathered to celebrate the Islamic festival of Mawlud, in two misdirected drone strikes in December 2023. Throughout the report, numerous examples emerge of drone strikes in densely populated civilian areas, with little evidence to suggest precautions to mitigate civilian harm.

These cases show the urgent need for increased proliferation controls on armed drones, and the clear failures of responsibility of those exporting these weapons in providing them to governments with seemingly little intention of upholding international humanitarian law. The extent of civilian suffering demonstrated in this report should make clear the threat posed by the rapid expansion of drone warfare worldwide, facilitated by access to ever-cheaper weapons systems produced by irresponsible, profit-chasing manufacturers. Innocent civilians living with conflict, political instability and widespread insecurity now confront the added threat of drone attacks, rendering even the most basic facets of day-to-day life – visiting a market, or attending a place of worship – potentially deadly.

The report concludes with a set of recommendations, calling for drone-exporting states to conduct thorough investigations into civilian harm caused by their uncrewed systems, disclosing their findings publicly, and affirming a commitment to civilian protection. Given the significant civilian harm already caused, the international community should urgently establish and implement a new control regime to prevent further proliferation-related harm.

Our report also urges the UK government to work with other states, civil society, and victim groups to develop robust international controls on armed drone transfers and use. The UK should advocate for transparency, oversight, and accountability, including casualty recording and victim assistance, while explicitly condemning extrajudicial killings and affirming the applicability of international law to armed drone operations.

Online webinar to examine the issues

To examine the issues raised in the report we will be holding an online webinar at 7pm (UK time) on Wednesday 26th March. Speakers will include Pax’s Wim Zwijnenburg, Nigerian journalist Olatunji Olaigbe, and Drone Wars researcher Cora Morris.  To register, click here.