Al Qaeda-linked Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) and Islamic State affiliate Islamic State in the Sahel Province (ISSP) have clashed in Niger, marking a new front in their rivalry.
The groups have fought hundreds of times in Mali and Burkina Faso, but this is the first reported clash in Niger.
ISSP claims to have killed 35 JNIM operatives in an attack on April 2 in western Niger’s Tillaberi region, saying it was in response to a JNIM attack on a village.
The violence highlights the lack of state control in the Sahel region, where jihadist groups have exploited gaps in security.
Poor cooperation between Nigeria and Niger has created a security vacuum, allowing JNIM to establish vantage points and rear bases in southern Niger and northwest Nigeria.
This has led to clashes with ISSP, which has been expanding its presence in the region.
Analysts warn that the rivalry will continue to fuel recruitment, expansion, and violence, making the insurgency increasingly difficult to contain.
Human Rights Watch has accused ISSP of staging deadly attacks on civilians in Tillaberi, while JNIM has used the term “khawarij” to refer to ISSP, indicating a deep-seated animosity between the groups.
The Sahel region has been plagued by jihadist violence since 2012, with millions displaced and thousands killed.
The conflict has spread across borders, involving multiple countries and groups. Efforts to address the crisis have been hindered by weak governance, corruption, and poor security cooperation.
