Nigerian priest leads global counter-terrorism talks in Switzerland
World
Geneva conference addresses the increasing use of drones by non-state actors
Workers prepare a drone to deliver medical supplies in Omenako, Ghana. (Photo: AFP)
Amid growing concerns about terrorists using drone technology as a principle of war, a Nigerian priest has led global talks to defeat terrorists at their own game.
A high profile audience at a conference in Geneva, Switzerland on April 25 hosted the Executive Director of the Kukah Centre, Father Atta Barkindo.
“Over the past two decades, military forces have seen their deployment of drone technologies rapidly, giving them greater situational awareness through ‘eyes in the sky’ and deploying them in response to emerging threats,” Father Barkindo said in his presentation on “Non-State Actors and military drones in Nigeria and the Lake Chad region”.
“These developments are also reflected in broader political and legal discussions about the use of deadly force in and outside of armed conflict, and the need to adapt arms export control measures to this new reality.
“A particular novelty is the increasing use of drones by non-state actors, which poses additional regional security challenges. These trends can also be observed increasingly on the African continent in the last decade and are reshaping the peace and security discourse in the region.”
The Kukah Center is a Nigeria-based policy research institute.
“The Geneva Center for Security Policy is exploring ways to expand the role of the African Union and African states in the broader debate on the use of drones in military and counter-terrorism operations.”
Father Barkindo said he hopes the round table will address the policy gaps in discussions about the opportunities and challenges of military drones.
“The Geneva Center for Security Policy is exploring ways to expand the role of the African Union and African states in the broader debate on the use of drones in military and counter-terrorism operations,” he said.
The minister stressed that the conference, jointly organized by the Geneva Center for Security Policy and PAX, “is a unique opportunity for representatives of permanent missions to the United Nations in Geneva to keep up to date with the latest developments in the field of unmanned systems, military and export control professionals, while also serving as a space for dialogue on the new issues arising from the increased use of these technologies for military and law enforcement operations.”
Father Barkindo presented data at the Oslo Military Drones Conference in 2019. He has conducted research on the increasing use of armed drones in counter-terrorism in Nigeria and the impact on civilians.
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