The Drone Dilemma: A Western Legacy Ignored in West Africa
THE ACTORS: Who gains from this framing? Western Media Outlets (e.g., BBC World): Benefit from a narrative that emphasizes foreign threats, justifying increased engagement (military, surveillance, aid) in the Sahel region under the guise of counter-terrorism. This also diverts scrutiny from indigenous grievances. Western Military-Industrial Complex: Manufacturers of advanced drone technology
(e.g., General Atomics, Lockheed Martin) and surveillance systems benefit from the perceived necessity for more sophisticated counter-drone measures and security assistance packages to affected nations. West African Governments: Some regimes, facing internal dissent and declining legitimacy, can leverage external 'jihadist' threats to secure aid, weapons, and training from Western partners, often
reinforcing their own power structures rather than resolving root causes of conflict. THE FUNDING: Where does the technology and narrative originate? The 'off-the-shelf' drones cited in the article are largely products of globalized commercial markets, often with primary manufacturing hubs in Asia (e.g., DJI, revenue $2.7 billion in 2021 per Statista, 2021 ). However, the *concept* of weaponized
drones was pioneered and extensively funded by Western powers, with the US alone investing billions since the late 20th century. For example, Predator and Reaper drones, foundational to modern drone warfare, were developed in the 1990s and deployed aggressively from 2001 onwards by the US (Air Force Magazine, 2005). The narrative itself is funded indirectly through advertising revenues and grants