Title: “Unchecked Lethality: The Human Cost of Automated Weapons Systems in Somalia”
Policy Paper by Horn Afrik News Agency for Human Rights (HANAHR) and Somali Human Rights Association (SOHRA) in Partnership with the Stop Killer Robots Campaign
Executive Summary
The increasing use of Automated Weapons Systems (AWS), particularly unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAVs or “killer drones”), in Somalia poses serious risks to civilian populations, undermines accountability, and threatens international humanitarian norms. This policy paper by HANAHR and SOHRA, in partnership with the Stop Killer Robots campaign, examines the impact of AWS deployment in Somalia and advocates for stronger regulation, transparency, and the eventual prohibition of fully autonomous lethal systems.
Introduction
Somalia has become a frontier for drone warfare by foreign military actors, especially in the fight against Al-Shabaab. While these operations are often justified as counterterrorism efforts, they have frequently resulted in civilian casualties, trauma, and fear. The lack of transparency, legal oversight, and community consultation makes the use of AWS not only ethically problematic but also a long-term threat to peacebuilding and rule of law in Somalia.
AWS refers to systems capable of selecting and engaging targets without meaningful human control. This represents a fundamental shift in warfare, moving decision-making from human operators to algorithms, increasing the risk of unlawful killings and accountability gaps.
AWS Deployment in Somalia: Context and Implications
The United States, as part of its Africa Command (AFRICOM) operations, has regularly used drones in Somalia since at least 2007. While AFRICOM maintains that drone strikes are precise, multiple independent investigations—such as those by Amnesty International and the Bureau of Investigative Journalism—have documented civilian deaths and injuries resulting from drone attacks.
The deployment of AWS raises several human rights and humanitarian concerns:
Violation of International Law: The use of AWS often occurs outside declared war zones, in violation of the principle of distinction under International Humanitarian Law (IHL).
Accountability Gaps: When drones are operated remotely, and in some cases with increasing autonomy, it becomes difficult to establish responsibility in the case of civilian harm.
Psychological Impact: Communities living under drones report constant fear and trauma, especially among children, leading to long-term mental health consequences.
Escalation of Conflict: Drone strikes, especially when they cause civilian casualties, serve as recruitment tools for extremist groups and may undermine counterinsurgency goals.
Legal and Ethical Concerns about AWS in Somalia
There is currently no binding international treaty regulating the use of fully autonomous weapons. However, the United Nations Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW) has hosted discussions urging regulation.
For Somalia, the lack of domestic legal framework governing the presence and impact of AWS further exposes its population to unregulated violence. AWS systems make life-and-death decisions based on sensor data and probabilistic analysis, devoid of human judgment or ethical consideration.
Meaningful Human Control must be a legal and moral imperative in the use of any weapon system. The use of AWS without it constitutes a fundamental threat to the right to life, due process, and dignity.
UAE involvement is confirmed by multiple reports from reliable sources, both local and international;
https://youtu.be/XLTbXBnZKyo?si=ap7ITqraAhSKLlSB
Policy Recommendations
To the Somali Government:
Declare a moratorium on the deployment or approval of AWS in Somali territory until proper international regulation is in place.
Investigate all civilian harm resulting from drone strikes and publicly release findings.
Develop national legislation aligned with international human rights law to regulate or prohibit AWS.
To International Actors (e.g., AFRICOM, allied governments e.g., the UAE):
Ensure transparency in drone operations, including clear public reporting of civilian casualties and incident investigations.
Commit to meaningful human control in all weapons systems deployed in Somalia.
Support international efforts to establish a legally binding treaty banning fully autonomous weapons.
To Civil Society and Advocacy Groups:
Document and report incidents of AWS use and its consequences.
Amplify survivor voices and the testimonies of communities living under the threat of AWS.
Engage with the UN and African Union mechanisms to push for urgent regulation of AWS.
Conclusion
The deployment of AWS in Somalia reflects a broader global shift towards algorithmic warfare that is dangerous and dehumanizing. Somalia, a fragile state grappling with protracted conflict, must not become a testing ground for inhumane technologies. HANAHR and SOHRA, in partnership with the Stop Killer Robots campaign, urge an immediate global response to prevent the normalization of automated killing and protect Somali civilians from the invisible dangers of unchecked technological warfare.
By: HANAHR & SOHRA