Jihadists reportedly leveraging Starlink in Sahel- Le Monde

As SpaceX’s Starlink continues its rapid expansion across Africa,a new investigation by French Le Monde daily has revealed that the satellite internet service is being used not only by civilians and businesses,but also by jihadist and criminal groups operating in the Sahel.

The report,based on interviews with military officials,analysts,and local sources,paints a complex picture of how cutting-edge technology is reshaping the dynamics of conflict in one of the world’s most volatile regions.

Starlink’s promise of fast,reliable internet in remote areas has made it a lifeline for underserved communities. But in the Sahel,where state presence is weak and insurgent groups are deeply entrenched,this same connectivity is being exploited by armed actors.

According to Le Monde,jihadist groups affiliated with both al-Qaeda and the Islamic State have begun using Starlink terminals to coordinate attacks,streamline logistics and communications,evade traditional surveillance methods and broadcast propaganda and recruit online.

In one documented case,a Starlink terminal was recovered by Nigerian forces from a Boko Haram commander. In Mali,a video released by JNIM (Jama’at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin) showed fighters using a Starlink dish during combat operations.

Military sources cited in the report say the technology has given insurgents a tactical edge,allowing them to operate with greater speed,secrecy,and coordination. “They no longer need to rely on patchy mobile networks or risky in-person meetings,” one officer noted. “They’re connected,mobile,and harder to track.”

This shift is particularly concerning in the “Three Borders” region—where Mali,Burkina Faso,and Niger converge—a hotspot for jihadist activity and a zone where state control has all but collapsed.

The ease with which Starlink terminals can be acquired,often through third-party resellers or smuggled across porous borders,has raised alarms among regional governments and international observers. While SpaceX requires user registration,enforcement is difficult in areas with little to no governance.

Some experts have called for geofencing or activation restrictions in conflict zones,but such measures are technically and politically complex. Others argue that the responsibility lies with national governments to regulate imports and monitor usage.

The situation underscores a broader dilemma: how to balance the benefits of technological innovation with the risks of misuse. Starlink has been a lifeline in war-torn Ukraine,a tool for education in rural South America,and a boon for entrepreneurs across Africa. But in the wrong hands,it can also become a weapon.