Advanced combat drones are increasingly used in conflicts in Africa. Countries like Iran, Turkey and the UAE provide these weapons. Gerrit Kurtz and Wolfram Lacher explain how drone usage has the potential to shift the balance of military power between state forces and insurgents.
Advanced combat drones are increasingly used in conflicts in Africa. This analysis of the conflicts in Mali, Chad and Sudan shows, their potential to shift the balance of military power between state forces and insurgents depends on symmetrical access to technology, type of warfare and topography.
doi:10.18449/2025MTA-PB33
doi:10.18449/2024RP18
Reporting about the war in Sudan is clouded by three oversimplified narratives – “forgotten conflict”, “war of two generals” and the “proxy war” classification. Gerrit Kurtz (SWP) calls for a more nuanced phrasing by journalists and policymakers.
Deby is seizing the multipolar disorder as an opportunity to consolidate his power. By capitalizing on Chad's status as one of the region’s last remaining partners of Western states, Deby has relied on French military presence as the ultimate deterrent against his overthrow by force. However, cooperation with the UAE in channelling military assistance to the RSF in Sudan, poses serious domestic and external risks.
doi:10.18449/2023MTA-PB19
Megatrends such as climate change, digitalisation, and urbanisation are transforming all aspects of politics, economics and society in Africa. Consequently, they are also affecting conflict dynamics. This Working Paper focuses specifically on how megatrends are altering patterns of foreign intervention in African conflicts. Two aspects stand out: the range of intervening powers is widening, and they are intervening increasingly at arm’s length by delegating to human or technical surrogates.
doi:10.18449/2022MTA-WP02
