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Drone proliferation in Africa: Civilian harm and calls for regulation

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Drone proliferation in Africa: Civilian harm and calls for regulation

A new report published by Drone Wars UK in March 2025 highlights the growing use of armed drones across Africa, revealing alarming civilian casualties and the urgent need for international regulation. The report, titled “Death on Delivery,” examines the proliferation of Medium Altitude, Long Endurance (MALE) drones—such as the MQ-9 Reaper and Bayraktar TB-2—and their impact on armed conflicts in several African nations.

The report documents 50 incidents between November 2021 and November 2024, resulting in at least 943 civilian deaths. These incidents span conflicts in Ethiopia, Burkina Faso, Mali, Sudan, Somalia, and Nigeria. In one case study from Burkina Faso, a drone strike at Bouro’s cattle market caused significant civilian harm, underscoring the devastating consequences of drone warfare.

While operators of MALE drones often claim precision targeting capabilities to minimize civilian harm, evidence from journalists and human rights organizations suggests otherwise. The long loiter times and high-resolution video feeds intended to ensure accuracy have not prevented tragic errors and collateral damage.

The report identifies China and Turkey as major exporters of armed drones to African states. China’s Wing Loong series and Turkey’s Bayraktar TB-2 have been widely deployed in African conflicts. While these systems are praised for their affordability and operational capabilities, their proliferation has raised concerns about misuse and inexperienced operators contributing to civilian casualties.

Turkey has emerged as a leading exporter of armed drones, overtaking China in recent years. Its drones have been used extensively across Africa, with little restriction on which countries they are sold to. This lack of oversight has contributed to the widespread use of drones in conflict zones.

Drone Wars UK emphasizes the urgent need for international controls to curb the proliferation of armed drones. Previous efforts by the Obama administration to establish regulations faltered due to political changes and limited global participation. The current lack of effective controls has allowed armed drones to spread unchecked, exacerbating civilian harm.

The report calls on the international community to develop a new control regime focused on preventing further harm from drone use. Without decisive action, the report warns that more innocent civilians will fall victim to drone strikes in conflict zones.

ESL issues ultimatum to banks over service charges

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ESL issues ultimatum to banks over service charges

Ethiopian Shipping and Logistics (ESL), one of the nation’s leading foreign exchange earners, has issued a final ultimatum to local banks, demanding a reduction in service charges for foreign currency transactions.

In a letter dated February 14, ESL raised significant concerns about the excessive fees imposed by domestic banks for transfers to its account at Citi Bank, warning that these high charges are undermining its operations and competitiveness.

The letter, authored by Wondimu Denbu, Deputy CEO for Corporate Services at ESL, stressed that the exorbitant fees are negatively impacting the operations of the state-owned logistics powerhouse.

 Additionally, banks are withholding extra amounts as Value-Added Tax (VAT), a new requirement from the government.

“The steep service charges will force the company to pass these expenses onto its clients, potentially compromising its competitive edge in the market,” the letter, addressed to one of the private banks, asserted.

ESL requested that banks limit service fees to a maximum of 1% for dollar accounts and 2.5% for birr accounts when transferring funds earned from maritime and Djibouti port clearance services.

The letter warned that if banks do not comply with ESL’s proposed fee structure, the company will terminate its dealings with those institutions.

Wondimu confirmed to Capital that the letter was sent to 24 banks, with half having already responded. “Of those who replied, roughly six have agreed to the proposed rates,” he noted.

“Today, we have decided to issue a final notice to the remaining banks to determine their willingness to align with ESL’s rates,” Wondimu stated to Capital on Friday, March 21.

“If they reject our proposed rates, we will exclusively work with those who have accepted our terms,” he added firmly.

Wondimu pointed out that the service fees currently charged by banks vary widely, sometimes reaching as high as 11%.

A senior banking expert, who wished to remain anonymous, commented that the service fees deducted by banks are taken from the company’s own resources. “The service charge, particularly for the birr account, is completely unreasonable,” he remarked.

He explained that for fund transfers to other bank accounts, known as Real-Time Gross Settlement (RTGS), banks should apply standard protocols as they do for other clients. “If banks impose unique charges for RTGS at ESL, it would be unfair,” he added.

The expert further emphasized that banks apply dual charges—first when servicing ESL’s customers and again when engaging with ESL directly. “Such practices result in increased costs for end-users or consumers,” he told Capital.

He supported ESL’s initiative, stating, “It is ESL’s right to collaborate with banks that offer reasonable rates.”

The expert criticized the current service fees imposed by banks, labeling them excessive.

ESL, which operates a fleet of ten vessels, is Ethiopia’s largest logistics firm, providing multimodal transport services, dry port operations, and other logistics-related activities. It is also one of the country’s top foreign currency earners in the service sector.

In the first half of the current budget year, ESL reported total revenue of 46.8 billion birr, exceeding its target of 44 billion birr by 106%.

During the same period, its cross-trade operations generated USD 271 million, surpassing the goal of USD 234 million by 16%.

Bridging Borders, Boosting Business: Why Africa Must Prioritize Digital Public Infrastructure

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Bridging Borders, Boosting Business: Why Africa Must Prioritize Digital Public Infrastructure


By Nonkqubela Jordan-Dyani and Paulin Basinga

Imagine a world where every citizen can access government services with ease, small businesses can expand into new markets, and women have equal access to financial opportunities. Digital public infrastructure (DPI) is key to making this a reality.

DPI is a digital network that crisscrosses the economy, connecting people, data, and money in the same way that roads connect people and goods. More than a set of digital tools, DPI enables shared, interoperable systems that improve service delivery, enhance trade, and expand economic participation. As South Africa assumes the G20 presidency, African leaders have an opportunity to drive a new approach to digital transformation, laying the foundation for a secure, efficient, and interconnected economy.

A Smarter Approach to Public Services

Social programs intended to support vulnerable populations are often plagued by inefficiencies, including fraud, misallocation of resources, fragmented data systems, and bureaucratic bottlenecks. DPI can eliminate many of these issues by integrating digital identity systems, payments, and data-sharing mechanisms. India’s Andhra Pradesh state, for example, linked biometric IDs to welfare payments, reducing fraud in a rural employment program by 40% and saving the government nine times its investment. Similarly, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Brazil leveraged digital ID and payments to deliver emergency aid to 70 million people, ensuring funds reached those who needed them most. African nations can adopt similar strategies to build more resilient social protection systems.

The traditional model—where each ministry builds its own standalone digital system—wastes resources and limits efficiency. Even the wealthiest nations struggle with this fragmented approach. DPI offers a smarter alternative: national platforms that reduce duplication, lower costs, and improve service delivery. Open-source technology makes digital transformation even more affordable, ensuring that governments can scale up solutions without heavy licensing fees.

The key is getting a robust digital ID system with an independent verifier of these digital IDs that becomes the single source of truth for each person’s online digital presence. This will ensure that there is no duplicate digital identity and will prevent fraud, corruption, or leakages—bringing trust and integrity into the digital ecosystem.

Fueling Trade and Private Sector Innovation

For African nations aiming to expand trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), DPI is indispensable. Without trusted digital systems, cross-border commerce remains slow and cumbersome. DPI provides the foundation for secure payments, standardized credentialing, and seamless data sharing. A Malawian entrepreneur, for example, could verify their identity through DPI, demonstrate the quality of their products, and conduct a secure transaction with a South African buyer—reducing barriers and increasing trust. By streamlining these processes, DPI turns trade agreements into real economic gains for businesses across the continent.

DPI is also a catalyst for private sector innovation. Open banking, powered by DPI, allows financial institutions to securely share customer data (with consent), making transactions more seamless, reducing fraud, and expanding access to financial products. Brazil’s open finance model has enabled more than 800 financial institutions—ranging from banks to credit unions and fintech startups—to offer more competitive services. African nations can build on this model to encourage innovation and competition, ensuring that small businesses and startups can scale up while reaching underserved populations.

Ensuring Inclusion and Safeguards

Women and marginalized communities often face the greatest barriers to financial and digital inclusion. Expanding access to DPI ensures that they can open bank accounts, access credit, and participate in the digital economy. India’s experience demonstrates this potential: between 2011 and 2021, digital banking adoption more than doubled, closing the gender gap in financial access.

DPI also makes digital services more accessible in rural areas. Existing infrastructure, such as post offices, can serve as community access points for payments, social programs, and vital services, eliminating the need for costly new networks.

However, the benefits of DPI depend on strong governance. Without safeguards, digital systems can be misused for surveillance, exclusion, or fraud. Data protection laws, secure authentication methods, and transparent oversight are essential for building trust. The UN’s Universal DPI Safeguards Framework provides a roadmap for responsible implementation. African nations have the opportunity to lead by example, embedding accountability and resilience into digital systems to protect citizens’ rights.

Seizing the Moment

South Africa’s G20 presidency is an historic opportunity to position Africa at the forefront of global digital transformation. By prioritizing DPI, South Africa can shape global conversations, starting by driving concrete, country-led use cases and informing the continent. African leaders must seize this moment to build interoperable, inclusive systems that serve their people. To lead, Africa must showcase real-world DPI successes, foster collaboration, and create a digital future that delivers for all.

Ms. Nonkqubela Thathakahle Jordan-Dyani serves as the Director-General of the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies in South Africa while Dr Paulin Basinga is the Africa Director for the Gates Foundation

WOMEN FIRST 5KM: WHY IT’S IMPORTANT & WHAT IT MEANS FOR THE PARTICIPANTS

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WOMEN FIRST 5KM: WHY IT’S IMPORTANT & WHAT IT MEANS FOR THE PARTICIPANTS

To be a participant in the WOMEN FIRST 5km is an uplifting experience. It gives you the opportunity to be together with thousands of other women and girls, to have fun running, jogging and walking together on the streets of your home city, and to celebrate what women have achieved in their contributions to the development of the economic, cultural and social life in Ethiopia.
For Ethiopia’s top female athletes the race is also important – and not only for the prizemoney that is on offer to the winning athletes. Over the race’s history, athletes of the stature of Aselefech Mergia (who was a three-time winner of the Dubai Marathon, one of the world’s richest races) have taken part in and won the Women First 5km. So too has Senberi Teferi and Mamitu Daska, athletes who have had a successful career racing in many other top international road races around the world. To come out top in the biggest women’s-only race in your own country is an achievement and memory worth having.


Women First 5km Race Ambassador Meseret Defar, a two-time Olympic gold medallist over 5,000 metres, regularly talks about the pride she feels in her contribution towards the success of the race. “What is success if it can’t be shared and enjoyed by others?” she asks. Mesi, who is a constant presence at the race, is delighted at how this race brings joy to thousands of girls and women who come to take part in the race.


Shani Senbatta, a former winner of the Icon Women’s Category at Women First 5km, explains the significance of the race like this: “From the moment I first joined this event, I knew it was an experience I never wanted to miss. The sense of unity and camaraderie that pervades the atmosphere here is truly the heart of this run.”


As the race has developed over the past 21 years – the first edition took place in May 2004 – many participants have talked about the inspiration that they draw from the competition which they take into their everyday lives. The race always takes place at the time of International Women’s Day (8th March) but the spirit of the run and the messages which are publicised at the event have resonance throughout the year.
Ethiopia’s former President Sahlework Zewdie said this about the Women First 5km: “Let’s enjoy this day. And let’s continue our work – there is much we can do. I want to say to you all: keep going and be successful.”

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