DR Congo military

A plane carrying a military delegation from the Democratic Republic of the Congo has crashed, according to Al Jazeera. Details about casualties, the cause of the crash, and the delegation's destination have not yet been confirmed. The incident is likely to draw scrutiny of the country's military aviation safety at a time when DR Congo's armed forces are heavily engaged in operations against rebel groups in the east.

DR Congo, Sudan and Mali have emerged as Africa's largest importers of military drones, with the United States and Iran among key suppliers whose technology is also feeding rival sides in the Russia-Ukraine war. The report highlights how armed drones are spreading across African conflict zones while the same supplier networks shape the war in Ukraine.

New figures show the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan and Mali are Africa's leading importers of military drones, while the United States and Iran have become key suppliers to opposing sides in the Russia-Ukraine war. The picture highlights how armed drone technology is spreading across African conflict zones, with outside powers fuelling rival camps, and analysts are weighing what this means for regional security and accountability.