Technopolitics of Conflict: Unpacking the Role of Drones in Sudan’s War

Abstract

Over the past twenty years, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), widely known as drones, have become a critical innovation in global security. In Africa, more than 20 countries have adopted UAV technology within the last five years, with notable developments in North Africa, West Africa, and increasingly in the Sahel region, especially amid the ongoing conflict in Sudan. This research examined the deployment of drone technology and its broader impact within Sudan’s conflict from 2023 to 2025. Using a qualitative case study framework and thematic analysis, the study offers a nuanced understanding of how drone operations have reshaped warfare, affected civilian protection, and reconfigured power relations. Primary data were gathered through semi-structured interviews with key informants (n=5), including security experts, a policy analyst, a humanitarian officer, and an academic researcher, complemented by online media coverage and specialized sources. Findings reveal paradoxical outcomes: while drones have enabled tactical disruption, enhanced surveillance, and precision strikes, particularly via loitering munitions and foreign-supplied UAVs, they have also contributed to civilian casualties, eroded trust, and intensified ethical scrutiny. In Sudan, drone technologies are not merely tools of military efficiency but instruments that recalibrate battlefield asymmetries and challenge aerial sovereignty in a fragmented security landscape. The study recommends multi-level reforms, including national oversight protocols, regional ethical frameworks, and international tracking mechanisms to regulate drone transfers, safeguard civilian zones, and build technopolitical literacy within Sudan’s transitional governance.