Two major terrorist organizations operating in West Africa have engaged in combat for the first time within Niger’s borders, representing a dangerous expansion of their ongoing conflict, according to security analysts.
The Islamic State in the Sahel Province (ISSP) and the al Qaeda-affiliated Jama’at Nusrat al‑Islam wal‑Muslimin (JNIM) have been battling each other since 2019, but their confrontations had previously been limited to Mali and Burkina Faso. Last week marked the first instance of their rivalry extending into Niger.
According to data from Armed Conflict Location & Event Data (ACLED), a organization that tracks global conflicts, these two groups have engaged in hundreds of battles over the past five years, leading to more than 2,100 fatalities.
In a Monday statement, ISSP claimed responsibility for attacking a JNIM stronghold in Niger’s western Tillaberi region on April 2. The group reported eliminating 35 enemy fighters and capturing weapons along with motorcycles, stating the assault was retaliation for a JNIM attack on a local village in the same area.
Human Rights Watch has previously documented ISSP’s involvement in deadly civilian attacks throughout the Tillaberi region. JNIM has not responded to the recent incident and remains unavailable for comment.
Heni Nsaibia, who serves as ACLED’s senior West Africa analyst, described ISSP’s claims as having “quite high credibility” due to the organization’s track record of providing photographic proof of eliminated rivals and captured equipment.
The expansion of inter-group violence demonstrates the minimal government authority present across much of the Sahel region, Nsaibia explained.
“This competition will likely continue to fuel recruitment, expansion, and violence, making the jihadist insurgency increasingly difficult to contain,” he said.
JNIM released its own video statement describing an April 5 operation in Nigeria’s Kebbi state, where the group claimed to have eliminated one rival fighter and captured another. The statement referred to their targets using the Arabic term “khawarij,” meaning separatists, which JNIM commonly applies to ISSP members but could indicate other groups as well.
Beverly Ochieng, a senior analyst with Control Risks consulting firm, noted that inadequate security coordination between Nigeria and Niger has created opportunities for JNIM to establish operational bases and strategic positions in southern Niger and northwestern Nigeria.
This expansion is “leading to clashes with the more well-established IS branches and affiliates,” she explained.
