Moroccan research center: An increasing use of drones by the Nusrat al Islam group
The Moroccan Policy Center for the New South warned in a report of the increasing use of drones by the “Jama’at Nusrat al Islam wal Muslimin” (JNIM) in its attacks in the Sahel region of Africa.
In its report, titled “Confronting the Spread of JNIM Drones in the Sahel,” the Moroccan Center explained that the first documented use of drones by JNIM occurred in Bandiagara, Mali, in September 2023.
The 18-page report confirmed that since 2023, the number of attacks in which the armed group used drones has risen to more than 20, 82% of which occurred since March 2025, representing a sharp increase in the frequency and tactical sophistication of these attacks.
The report pointed out that these attacks targeted military sites in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Togo, and there are signs of expansion into Niger and Benin.
He highlighted that JNIM uses commercial drones, such as DJI or FPV, modified to carry explosive payloads, and uses offline artificial intelligence algorithms to optimize their trajectories and bypass jamming systems.
These attacks are filmed and broadcast to increase psychological pressure on regular forces.
The report, prepared by researchers Reza Limouri and Nicola Milnes, stated that JNIM has rapidly transitioned from experimenting with drones to making them an operational doctrine.
In less than two years, the group has built the capacity to deploy drones in three countries and integrate them into its battlefield tactics.
The report provided examples of attacks in which drones were used, such as the suicide attack on April 9, 2025, in Togo, which killed five soldiers; the attack on May 31 in Kabankora (Mali), in which several FPV drones were used; and the attack on June 12 on the Tiébé training center (Mali), which resulted in the injury of more than 30 soldiers.
The Moroccan center warned that this technological development raises concerns among experts and weakens the current counterterrorism strategies of countries in the region, stressing that national armies appear disorganized and have limited detection capabilities in the face of this threat.
The frequency and consistency of these attacks indicate that JNIM has continued access to equipment whether purchased, modified, or captured.
The report recommended establishing a regional task force to combat drones, developing countermeasures, and training national armies.
Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso had previously acquired Bayraktar drones from Türkiye and occasionally used them in their armies’ attacks against armed groups.
