Jihadist Rivalry Escalates: Al Qaeda and ISIS Affiliates Clash for First Time in Niger
By Robbie Corey-Boulet, Reuters
DAKAR, April 9 (Reuters) – A long-running and bloody rivalry between the Sahel's dominant jihadist groups has opened a new front. For the first time, fighters linked to al Qaeda and the Islamic State have clashed on Nigerien soil, according to a statement from one of the factions—a significant escalation that analysts warn could further destabilize the region.
The al Qaeda-aligned Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) and the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS) have been locked in a fierce competition for influence, resources, and recruits since their first skirmishes in 2019. Data from the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED) indicates hundreds of clashes, primarily in Mali and Burkina Faso, resulting in over 2,100 combatant deaths.
That conflict remained confined to those two nations until last week. Islamic State fighters launched an assault on a JNIM position in Niger's western Tillaberi region, a zone already plagued by extremist violence. In a statement dated Monday, the ISGS claimed to have killed 35 JNIM operatives and captured weapons and motorcycles, framing the April 2 attack as retaliation for a prior JNIM raid on a village in the same area.
"The spillover into Niger was a matter of 'when,' not 'if,'" said Heni Nsaibia, ACLED's senior analyst for West Africa. "ISGS statements generally carry high credibility, backed by visual evidence. This expansion highlights the vacuum of state authority and signals an intensification of a conflict that fuels recruitment and makes the entire insurgency harder to contain."
The Tillaberi region has witnessed repeated atrocities against civilians. Human Rights Watch has previously accused ISGS of staging deadly attacks there. JNIM has not commented on the recent incident.
In a seemingly related development, JNIM released a video statement claiming an April 5 operation in Nigeria's Kebbi state, where it said it killed one member and kidnapped another from a rival group it referred to as "khawarij"—a term often used to denounce Islamic State affiliates.
Analysts point to the porous border between Nigeria and Niger as a key enabler. "Poor security coordination is creating a gap that JNIM is actively trying to exploit by establishing footholds in southern Niger and northwest Nigeria," explained Beverly Ochieng, a senior analyst at consultancy Control Risks. "This territorial push is inevitably leading to direct clashes with the more entrenched ISGS networks."
Voices from the Region:
"This is a terrifying turn. These groups are treating our lands as their battlefield. The fighting in Tillaberi is not just about them—it displaces families, destroys livelihoods, and our governments seem powerless to stop it." – Amina Idriss, schoolteacher in Niamey, Niger.
"The analytical focus is always on 'jihadist rivalry,' but we must not lose sight of the strategic objective both groups share: undermining the state. Their competition over turf and taxes is a symptom of their shared anti-government project. The international community's counterterrorism approach remains fragmented and ineffective." – Dr. Samuel Kouamé, political scientist specializing in Sahel security.
"Enough with the hand-wringing analysis! This is what happens when foreign military interventions and corrupt local governments fail utterly. They've created the perfect chaos for these monsters to thrive and spread. Niger is now squarely in the crosshairs because there is no coherent, people-centered security strategy, only empty summits and broken promises." – Fatima Zahra, activist with the Sahel Stability Forum.
"As a community leader near the border, I see the daily reality. Young men with few options are the recruits. The clash of these groups means we are caught between two fires. We need development, not just drones; jobs, not just jargon about 'containment.'" – Ibrahim Diallo, community elder, Dosso region, Niger.