Drone – the next step in securing Africa’s maritime environment?

Drone – the next step in securing Africa’s maritime environment?. Skip to content Menu Home | Drone – the next step in securing Africa’s maritime environment?

What happened

In Africa, drones have to date primarily been used to collect data and combat maritime crimes However, there are also several African-based companies that manufacture drones for maritime purposes, such as South Africa’s Milkor and Denel and a Moroccan tech start-up. She said: “As African countries attempt to enhance their defence capabilities, we are going to see the demand for drones with maritime applications rise significantly. Speaking at the AAD conference at Waterkloof Air Force Base, Ramachela pointed out that drones can be operated at low risk with high rewards and that they come with a significantly lower cost than other traditional maritime vessels such as ships and submarines.

She said that, considering the personal safety of maritime security officers, it made more sense to deploy a drone to carry out surveillance of a vast area of water in dangerous conditions. Ramachela noted that drones cannot fully supplement traditional maritime forces, but they can serve as force multipliers. Currently, the main suppliers of these drones to Africa were the US, the UK, the United Arab Emirates, Israel and Turkiye.

The wider picture

Seychelles is arguably one of the front-runners in using this unmanned technology and they operate long-range surveillance drones equipped with artificial intelligence to monitor their vast maritime area to combat illegal fishing. There is also a concern that as Africa’s maritime security becomes increasingly militarised, the continent may become a testing ground for new prototypes including the incorporation of artificial intelligence. But for now, Africa is considered a consumer rather than a producer of drones.

"Capitalising on hostingImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Haile Gebrselassie won the men's Olympic 10,000m title at the Athens 1996 and Sydney 2000 GamesAfrica will stage several big events over the next four years, with the first of those the upcoming Youth Olympics in the Senegalese capital Dakar from 31 October to 13 November. South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia will host next year's men's Cricket World Cup, while the men's Fifa World Cup will return to the continent for the first time since 2010 when Morocco co-hosts alongside Spain and Portugal in 2030.

The drones are used in rural areas where there is minimal police visibility. Image Credits : Reuters Janet Szabo 17 September 2026, 07:36 [SAST] A research associate at the University of Pretoria’s Ocean Regions Programme, Tshegofatso Ramachela, says Africa should be looking to unmanned systems to significantly improve its offshore security. Many African coastal and island nations have limited offshore patrol capabilities, and some also lack sufficient air assets.

What has been reported

However, the continent faces a number of challenges which would affect the deployment and integration of drones into defence capabilities and doctrine. This year saw South Africa’s first locally designed and built unmanned surface vessel complete sea acceptance trials and debut internationally. This has made Africa a highly profitable market which attracts partnerships and investments from various stakeholders, both state and non-state actors. ” Still, Ramachela painted an alluring picture of a future in which Africa’s vast territorial waters – from the north shores of the Mediterranean to the Red Sea, the Atlantic Ocean in the west, the Indian Ocean in the east and the Southern Ocean are patrolled and monitored by unmanned and semi-autonomous systems – a continental exclusive economic zone comprising an estimated 30-million square kilometres.

Published16 September 2026The decision to award the 2029 World Athletics Championships to Nairobi has prompted an outpouring of celebration across Africa. The Kenyan capital saw off former Olympic Games hosts London and Rome to secure a slice of history, with the event set to be held in Africa for the first time. Unsurprisingly, news that the globe's top athletes will descend on the 48,000-capacity Kasarani Stadium in three years' time has gone down well with some of East Africa's biggest track and field stars.

Given the passionate following the sport has in Kenya, several commenters have stated that athletics will be "coming home". 'Huge for Africa'Julius Yego, javelin world champion in 2015, said winning the bid is "a huge thing for Africa". "Africa has produced the best of athletes but we've never had a chance to witness such a big championship.

What happens next

"It is something that will bring people to Africa. How Kenya won its bid for 2029 World Athletics ChampionshipsPublished1 day agoKenya to host 2029 World Athletics Championships in African firstPublished1 day agoGebrselassie expects the atmosphere inside the Kasarani Stadium, which is undergoing redevelopment ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, to be "very different". "Inspiring the next generationImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Kenyan sprinter Ferdinand Omanyala, pictured competing at the Kasarani Stadium in 2023, said it had "always been a dream" to see the country host a major championshipsJaneth Jepkosgei, who won the women's 800m title at the 2007 World Championships in Osaka, thinks the "really exciting" decision will inspire the next generation of athletes.

"Kenyan sprinter Ferdinand Omanyala, the holder of the African 100m record, was himself inspired by Nairobi hosting the Under-18 World Championships in 2017. Yego feels the landmark of seeing athletics' flagship competition on African soil should give the rest of the continent belief in their abilities to put on major events. "As Africans, we need to think big and plan ahead and think 'Yes, it is possible for Africa to host a championship like the World Championships'.

Africa hosted the World Cup in 2010 in South Africa, so I think we're capable of hosting big events.

The report has been compiled by The Daily Waves using information reported across sabcnews.com, bbc.co.uk. Details are presented according to the information available at the time of publication and may change as authorities, organisers or other relevant parties provide updates.