Fighting between rival jihadist groups affiliated with al-Qaeda and the Islamic State has intensified across the borderlands of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, raising concerns about worsening insecurity in the Sahel region.
The latest clashes involve the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims, known as JNIM and affiliated with al-Qaeda, and Islamic State Sahel Province (ISSP). The groups have competed for territory, recruitment networks and control of strategic routes for years.
The latest escalation has reportedly included fierce fighting in Oudalan Province in northern Burkina Faso, close to the borders with Mali and Niger.
ISSP claimed that it killed more than 400 JNIM fighters in clashes in the area. However, the reported toll has not been independently confirmed, and conflict analysts have cautioned against treating the figure as established fact.
Rival Groups Battle for Control of Border Areas
The latest confrontation is part of a prolonged struggle between the two organisations, which have clashed repeatedly since 2019.
The Sahel, a semi-arid region stretching across Africa south of the Sahara, has become a major centre of jihadist activity. Armed groups have expanded their operations across remote rural communities and important transport routes, placing civilians and state forces under continued pressure.
According to conflict monitor ACLED, JNIM and ISSP have engaged in hundreds of confrontations since their rivalry escalated. The groups compete for influence over communities, access routes and areas that can support their operations.
Analysts say the latest fighting reflects an intensifying contest for dominance in the tri-border region.
Death Toll Claims Remain Unverified
ISSP said it had killed more than 400 JNIM fighters, including several commanders, during a battle in Oudalan Province. The group has made similar claims about casualties in earlier clashes.
Héni Nsaibia, an analyst with ACLED, has warned that if the reported toll were confirmed, it would represent an exceptionally deadly single confrontation between the rivals.
However, independent verification remains a major challenge in remote conflict zones where access is limited and armed groups release competing accounts of battlefield events.
The precise number of fighters killed, the losses sustained by each side and the overall outcome of the latest clashes therefore remain uncertain.
Different Strategies, Shared Territory
JNIM and ISSP are both extremist armed organisations, but analysts distinguish between their approaches to controlling territory and interacting with local populations.
JNIM has sought to establish local networks and alliances while directing many of its attacks against state forces and foreign troops. It has also carried out abuses against civilians.
ISSP follows a more hard-line transnational ideology and has been accused of using indiscriminate violence against civilians it considers opponents or collaborators.
Despite these differences, both groups seek influence over many of the same communities and strategic areas, creating persistent competition and repeated armed confrontations.
Threat Extends Across the Sahel
The rivalry adds another layer to the security challenges facing Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, whose military-led governments have struggled to contain insurgent violence.
Conflict analysts have also warned that militant activity and networks can extend beyond the traditional conflict zones, including towards western Niger and parts of Nigeria.
The expansion of armed groups threatens civilian safety, local trade, movement between communities and access to essential services.
Although the latest reported clashes may weaken one or both factions locally, the longer-term consequences remain unclear. The balance of power will depend on verified losses, each group’s ability to bring in reinforcements and the response of national security forces.
For now, the reported death toll remains unconfirmed, while the wider contest between JNIM and ISSP continues to threaten stability across the Sahel.
