In Niger, Jama’at Nasr al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) and Islamic State Sahel Province (ISSP) are fighting for territory while both groups continue to expand across the Sahel and beyond. Photo courtesy of the Combating Terrorism Center (CTC) at West Point.
Published June 23, 2026
Two of the world’s most dangerous jihadist organizations are intensifying their fight for territory across Africa’s Sahel region, raising fears that the violence could further destabilize West Africa and create new security challenges for governments struggling to contain the growing insurgency.
The rival groups—Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), an al-Qaeda affiliate, and the Islamic State Sahel Province (ISSP), an affiliate of ISIS—have expanded their operations while simultaneously battling each other and launching attacks against military forces across Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger.
Security analysts warn that both organizations have continued to gain ground despite their violent rivalry.
The conflict has become increasingly complex as each group competes for control of territory, local populations, and key supply routes. Rather than weakening one another, experts say the competition has fueled additional violence and accelerated the spread of extremist influence into new areas of West Africa.
According to recent security assessments, JNIM has increasingly combined military operations with efforts to establish local governance in areas under its control, while ISSP has maintained a more aggressive campaign focused on eliminating rivals and attacking government forces. Analysts say the differing strategies have allowed both organizations to recruit fighters and expand their influence despite continued military operations against them.
The deteriorating security situation has been especially evident in Niger, where clashes between JNIM and ISSP have spilled into new territory. Researchers say the violence reflects weakening government control across large sections of the Sahel and has made it more difficult for regional militaries to contain either group.
The expanding insurgency has also begun threatening larger cities. In recent days, al-Qaeda-linked militants claimed responsibility for a deadly attack near Niger’s international airport in the capital of Niamey, underscoring concerns that extremist groups are becoming capable of striking strategic urban targets in addition to rural communities.
Security experts warn that instability across the Sahel has been fueled by a combination of military coups, weak state institutions, humanitarian crises, and the withdrawal of several international counterterrorism missions. Those developments have created security vacuums that extremist organizations have exploited to expand their operations.
The Council on Foreign Relations recently reported that more than half of all global terrorism-related deaths occurred in the Sahel in 2024, making the region the world’s deadliest hotspot for extremist violence. Analysts warn that continued instability could threaten neighboring coastal nations and further complicate international counterterrorism efforts.
While regional governments continue military operations against both terrorist organizations, security analysts caution that neither JNIM nor ISSP appears close to defeat. Instead, the two groups continue to adapt their tactics, expand recruitment, and compete for influence across one of Africa’s most volatile regions.
WATCH:
TIMELINE: The evolution of JNIM, West Africa’s al Qaeda affiliate
🧩 Reading Between the Lines:
More Than a Regional Conflict
The growing fight between JNIM and ISIS-linked militants in the Sahel is more than a distant conflict in Africa. It shows what can happen when governments lose control of territory and terrorist groups are allowed to fill the vacuum. Even though these organizations are enemies, both continue to expand, making ordinary people the biggest victims.
Weak Governments Create Opportunities
Many countries in the Sahel have faced military coups, political instability, and limited security resources. When governments struggle to provide safety, enforce the law, or deliver basic services, extremist groups often step in to gain influence. The longer those problems remain unresolved, the harder it becomes to push terrorists back.
Terrorists Don’t Stay Within Borders
History has shown that terrorist organizations rarely remain confined to one region. They build funding networks, recruit supporters online, and look for opportunities beyond their home territory. That’s why many security experts argue that ignoring growing extremist movements overseas can eventually create security concerns for allies and Western nations.
Military Pressure Still Matters
Some analysts argue that negotiations or development programs alone are unlikely to stop groups whose goal is to establish extremist rule through violence. From this perspective, intelligence sharing, military cooperation, and sustained counterterrorism operations remain essential to keeping these organizations from expanding further.
Security Vacuums Come at a High Cost
When international forces withdraw before local governments are fully prepared to maintain security, extremist groups often move quickly to seize territory. Critics say that preventing these power vacuums is just as important as defeating terrorist groups on the battlefield because once militants establish control, removing them becomes much more difficult.
The Bigger Picture
The violence unfolding across the Sahel serves as a reminder that terrorism remains a global challenge. What begins as a local insurgency can evolve into a regional crisis with international consequences. For many policymakers, the lesson is that strong governments, effective security forces, and continued pressure on terrorist organizations remain critical to preventing extremist groups from gaining ground.
🔗 The Stakes:
Why This Matters
The growing strength of terrorist groups in the Sahel is not just Africa’s problem. As extremist organizations gain territory, weapons, and recruits, the risk of regional instability and broader international security threats increases. History has shown that terrorist networks can expand beyond their original borders if they are left unchecked.
Safe Havens for Terrorists
When governments lose control of large areas, terrorist groups gain places where they can train fighters, store weapons, and plan attacks with less interference. The longer these safe havens exist, the more difficult and costly they become to eliminate.
A Threat Beyond the Region
Although most of the violence is happening in West Africa, instability can spread through refugee crises, organized crime, arms trafficking, and extremist recruitment. Many security experts believe that preventing terrorist groups from growing overseas helps reduce the risk of future threats against allies and Western interests.
The Cost of Weak Security
The ongoing conflict highlights the importance of capable security forces and governments that can maintain order. When law enforcement and military institutions weaken, extremist groups often move in quickly to fill the gap, making it harder to restore stability later.
Protecting Global Stability
Counterterrorism efforts require cooperation between nations, intelligence agencies, and regional governments. Many policymakers argue that consistent pressure on terrorist organizations is necessary to stop them from expanding their influence and threatening additional countries.
Looking Ahead
The battle between JNIM and ISSP is unlikely to end soon, but the decisions made by regional governments and their international partners could shape the future of the Sahel for years to come. For many observers, the priority is clear: prevent terrorist groups from gaining stronger footholds before today’s regional crisis grows into an even larger global security challenge.
🏁 The Final Word:
The growing conflict between JNIM and the Islamic State Sahel Province shows that terrorist organizations do not have to work together to become a serious threat. Even as they fight each other, both groups continue to expand into areas where governments struggle to maintain control. For many observers, the lesson is that extremist groups thrive when security is weak and law enforcement cannot keep pace. While military action alone is unlikely to solve every problem, many security experts argue that strong governments, effective counterterrorism efforts, and continued international cooperation remain essential to stopping these organizations from gaining more territory and putting even more lives at risk.
SOURCES: THE GATEWAY PUNDIT – Rivals in Terror: How JNIM and ISSP Are Spreading the Sahel Islamist Insurgency Across West Africa
