#news from Le Monde on #weaponry #drones: “From the base’s runway take off armed drones from Turkish manufacturer Baykar (at least six Bayraktar TB2 and two #Bayraktar Akinci, the superior model) and surveillance drones from the country’s National Intelligence Agency (ANR). Their mission: to track down and strike the jihadist groups that control large swathes of Burkina Faso's territory. Initiated by former president Roch Marc Christian Kaboré (overthrown by the 2022 putsch), the use of armed drones has been intensified by Captain Traoré. (...) The ruling militaries of #Mali, #Burkina-Faso and Niger, which broke away from France and formed the Alliance of Sahel States (ASS) at the end of 2023, aren’t just banking on drones to bolster their air capabilities: attack and troop transport helicopters, fighter jets, aircraft equipped with ISR (intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance) capabilities... To acquire these aircraft, they are relying primarily on their Turkish partners (for drones), with whom the civilian government they overthrew was already cooperating, and Russians (for planes and helicopters). (...) According to various sources consulted by Le Monde and cross-referenced with the Military Balance register, a directory of military forces worldwide published by the International Institute for Strategic Studies, the Malian army currently has eight Bayraktar TB2s, around 15 helicopters (Mi-35s, Mi-24s, Mi-17s, Mi-8s...), and some 15 L-39 Albatros aircraft. The Burkinabe army has at least six TB2s, two Akinci, a dozen helicopters (Mi-35, Mi-17, Mi-8...) and five light fighters (Super Tucano and Marchetti SF-260). The Nigerien army has six TB2s, some 10 helicopters (Mi-35, Mi-17, Gazelle...) and two Sukhoi Su-25s. (...) Working alongside the Malian army, #Wagner’s mercenaries are playing an active role in this aerial war. Among them are pilots, at the controls of the L-39 Albatros supplied by Moscow to the Malian air force. At the end of September, in the region of Tin Zaouatine, where they attempted a retaliatory attack for the assault they suffered two months earlier before turning back, CSP rebels came across drones with Russian-designed Zala Kub prowler ammunition (kamikaze drones).” Archive of <https://www.lemonde.fr/en/le-monde-africa/article/2024/11/20/turkish-drones-and-russian-planes-aerial-warfare-comes-to-west-africa_6733455_124.html>.
on 02025-06-17#Burkina-Faso was also buying #weaponry from #Egypt and #China last year. “Shortly after delivery, Burkina Faso appeared to begin using its Akinci UAVs in combat, with video published on 29 April purportedly showing Akinci and TB2 strikes against terrorist targets. The country has used UAVs extensively to combat Islamist fighters, but unfortunately dozens of civilians have also been killed in these strikes. (...) Last year, Burkina Faso surpassed Afghanistan as the country most impacted by terrorism, with nearly 2 000 deaths.” Other #Bayraktar customers listed include #Ethiopia, Libya, Morocco, Niger, Djibouti, Togo, #Nigeria, Mali, Rwanda and #Tunisia.
on 02025-06-17#Burkina-Faso bought #Bayraktar TB2 #drones from #Turkey in 02022, following sales to Togo, Djibouti, Libya, #Ethiopia, Morocco, #Tunisia, and Niger. #weaponry
on 02025-06-17#Burkina-Faso bought several #Bayraktar #drones (TB2 and Akinci) from #Turkey last year, following earlier purchases. #weaponry
on 02025-06-17