Dr. Obasesam Okoi, an assistant professor in the Department of Justice and Society Studies, recently spoke to the BBC about satellite technologies in conflict zones.
Host: A recent report by the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime found that Islamic insurgents in the sub-Saharan south are using Starlink to coordinate their attacks. What is the relationship between the availability of reliable internet access and the surge in attacks in the region?
Okoi: “This is a complex situation. What we’re seeing is a troubling shift. Armed groups are increasingly furthering infrastructure gaps by using satellite internet to coordinate attacks and spread propaganda in areas where state governments are weak or nonexistent.”
