The Sierra Leone Police has acquired 10 drones to strengthen its capacity for crowd management and surveillance, Inspector General of Police William Fayia-Sellu has confirmed.
Speaking on the newly launched Sierra Leone Police Online TV, IGP Fayia-Sellu said two of the drones are specifically designed for riot control, each capable of carrying up to 16 teargas canisters. He stated the drones would be deployed “if the need arises.”
The drones will also support general surveillance and operational monitoring.
The announcement came as the IGP highlighted broader reforms within the force, including progress in infrastructure, healthcare, and staff welfare.
Global Use of Riot and Surveillance Drones
Security forces have used riot-control drones equipped to deploy teargas in several contexts, including by the Israel Defence Forces against Palestinian protesters in the West Bank.
Drones have also become widely used in recent conflicts. First-person-view (FPV) drones have been employed by Hezbollah in Lebanon in fighting against Israel. In the Russia-Ukraine war, drones are used extensively for surveillance, targeting, and strikes. Similar use has been reported among fighting forces in Sudan, where drones serve for reconnaissance and tactical operations.
Globally, drones are increasingly adopted by security and military forces for low-cost, high-tech surveillance and crowd control, altering how both policing and conflict are conducted.
