Africa's sky wardens: Chinese drones traded for oil reserves
African countries have become one of the most significant buyers of Chinese unmanned aerial vehicles. Instead of paying cash, these countries often allow Chinese companies access to their natural resources, as reported by the South African portal Defenceweb.
In the past decade, China has surpassed the United States in producing advanced unmanned aerial vehicles, both armed and unarmed, becoming the largest exporter in the world.
Africa buys Chinese drones
Military experts cited by the African portal Military.africa in May of the previous year praised Chinese unmanned aerial vehicles for their long range, ease of operation, and, most importantly, affordability. The Wing Loong I, priced at $1 million, is comparable to the American Predator and can carry bombs and conventional missiles.
In recent years, Chinese drones have been acquired by the armies of Algeria, Morocco, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Nigeria, and Ethiopia. There are currently over 400 Chinese drones on the continent.
Oil paid for drones
African countries are eager to purchase the more affordable CH-4 in addition to the Wing Loong I. However, Libya possesses the more expensive and advanced Wing Loong II, which originated as a Gulf country donation. The same drones were exchanged for access to oil reserves in Nigeria, where they are used in the fight against Boko Haram, a jihadist movement that plagues this most populous country in Africa. Sudan also compensated China with oil for drones.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo bought three CH-4 Rainbow drones from China last year and immediately deployed them in the eastern part of the country to combat the M23 militias and supporting forces from Rwanda. A year prior, they had purchased nine such drones.
Chinese systems for jamming drones, known as Ching Kong, are also becoming popular in Africa. Available on the Chinese Global Sources website for $2,700 each, these systems are used by Sudan's government forces, who have been battling the rebel Rapid Support Forces (RSF) for almost a year.
In Africa, Israeli and Turkish machines compete with Chinese drones. Turkey offers the TAI Aksungur and its most popular Bayraktar TB2. Since 2019, Ankara has sold over 40 drones to 10 African countries. Among the buyers are Niger, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Chad.
However, Africa is also emerging as a drone producer itself, with developments in seven countries by thirteen companies, including Egypt, Sudan, South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, Rwanda, and Ethiopia.
