26 Jul 2025
Africa: Drones supplied by Turkey, China and Iran reportedly contribute to death and devastation in recent wars
Summary
Date Reported: 26 Jul 2025
Location: Ethiopia
Other
Government ( Sector not reported/applicable )Affected
Total individuals affected: Number unknown
Public: ( Number unknown - Ethiopia - Sector unknown , Gender not reported )Issues
Injuries , Conflict prevention & resolution , DeathsResponse
Response sought: No
Source type: News outlet
Summary
Date Reported: 26 Jul 2025
Location: Mali
Other
Government ( Arms/Weapons )Affected
Total individuals affected: Number unknown
Public: ( Number unknown - Mali - Sector unknown , Gender not reported )Issues
Killings , Conflict prevention & resolution , Injuries , DeathsResponse
Response sought: No
Source type: News outlet
Summary
Date Reported: 26 Jul 2025
Location: Burkina Faso
Other
Government ( Arms/Weapons )Affected
Total individuals affected: Number unknown
Public: ( Number unknown - Burkina Faso - Sector unknown , Gender not reported )Issues
Deaths , Injuries , Conflict prevention & resolution , KillingsResponse
Response sought: No
Source type: News outlet
Summary
Date Reported: 26 Jul 2025
Location: Sudan
Other
Government ( Arms/Weapons )Affected
Total individuals affected: Number unknown
Public: ( Number unknown - Sudan - Sector unknown , Gender not reported )Issues
Deaths , Killings , Conflict prevention & resolution , InjuriesResponse
Response sought: No
Source type: News outlet
Summary
Date Reported: 26 Jul 2025
Location: Libya
Other
Government ( Arms/Weapons )Affected
Total individuals affected: Number unknown
Public: ( Number unknown - Libya - Sector unknown , Gender not reported )Issues
Deaths , Injuries , Conflict prevention & resolution , KillingsResponse
Response sought: No
Source type: News outlet
Summary
Date Reported: 26 Jul 2025
Location: Chad
Other
Government ( Arms/Weapons )Affected
Total individuals affected: Number unknown
Public: ( Number unknown - Chad - Sector unknown , Gender not reported )Issues
Deaths , Conflict prevention & resolution , Killings , InjuriesResponse
Response sought: No
Source type: News outlet
"Chinese, Iranian and Turkish Drones Fuel Africa’s New Era of Low-Cost Warfare", China Global South Project, 26 July 2025
[...] In the Amhara region alone, now the hardest-hit, at least 669 people have been killed in more than 70 drone strikes since 2023, according to ACLED data analysed by AFP.
[...] Countries like China, Turkey, and Iran have the advantage of selling drones “without attaching any political conditionality related to respect for human rights” [...]
Among African military commands, the most popular is undoubtedly the Turkish Bayraktar TB2 drone, which, along with its larger counterpart, the Akinci, has surpassed the Chinese Wing Loong in recent years. The TB2 made a notable appearance in 2019 in Libya [...] between the Ankara- backed Government of National Accord and its eastern rival, Marshal Haftar, equipped with Chinese weapons supplied by the United Arab Emirates. [...]
[...] While contract details are kept secret, experts consulted by AFP estimate that a “system” of three drones costs nearly $6 million — significantly less than the several tens of millions of dollars for a fighter jet or combat helicopter. [...]
The TB2 is produced by the private company Baykar [...].
[...] Analysis of satellite images by Dutch peace organisation PAX at several Ethiopian air bases confirmed the presence of TB2s and, more recently, the Akinci, as well as Chinese Wing Loongs and Iranian Mohajer-6s.
[..] residents [...] said there had been no fighting in the area in the run-up to the attack. They live in constant fear now. “We are ready to flee to the bush at any moment in the event of a sudden drone strike,” said one of them. “We live in extreme fear.”