Türkiye admits to allowing Ethiopia use of drones involved in mass civilian casualties News
ArmyInForm, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Türkiye admits to allowing Ethiopia use of drones involved in mass civilian casualties

A senior Turkish government official confirmed on Friday that Türkiye authorized Ethiopia to use Turkish-made drones, which have been involved in several attacks that have caused numerous civilian casualties. In January 2022, a targeted drone attack on a primary school caused the death of at least 59 civilians.

Generally, if drones are used in scenarios of international military conflicts, their operation must adhere to the principle of distinction in international law. This principle prohibits indiscriminate attacks, which are of a nature to strike military objectives and civilian objects without distinguishing between the two. However, drones are not regarded as an illegal means of war or weapon, as they are normally not considered as being of indiscriminate nature. Additionally, in the case of a non-international armed conflict, civilians might be prone to drone attacks and be considered legitimate targets if they are involved in combating actions and continuously participate in hostilities.

In the case of Ethiopia, however, civil unrest represents a situation that moves between the lines of a non-international armed conflict and mere internal unrest. This ambiguity complicates the application of international humanitarian law and the principles governing the use of force, meaning that drones are being used in an environment where the distinction between combatants and civilians is not clear-cut.

The Ethiopian army has been constantly purchasing Akinci drones from Türkiye, most recently in January. The Akinci drone is a high-altitude, long-endurance aircraft capable of carrying a substantial payload at high speeds. It features autonomous navigation, takeoff, and landing, removing the need for ground control systems. It can be equipped with various weapons including missiles and guided munitions.

Following Türkiye’s confirmation Friday, a meeting of the Turkish Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee discussed potential repercussions against Türkiye from the international community considering the casualties caused by the drones.

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