Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (JNIM) intensified its offensive operations in the Sahel on Tuesday, launching coordinated attacks in northern Mali and southern Burkina Faso as the group entered a violent feud with the Islamic State in the Sahel Province (ISSP). The surge in violence comes amid a broader scramble by jihadist factions to dominate the region’s fragile power vacuum.
According to local officials and unnamed security sources, JNIM fighters struck at multiple Malian army outposts near Kidal, killing at least eight soldiers and seizing weapons and ammunition. Simultaneously, in the Bourem district, JNIM militants ambushed a convoy of United Nations peacekeepers, wounding two members of the MINUSMA contingent.
The uptick in hostilities coincides with an escalating rivalry between JNIM and the ISSP, a splinter of the Islamic State that has sought to expand its influence in the western Sahel. Analysts say the two groups have been vying for control over smuggling routes and recruitment networks, leading to a series of “fratricidal” clashes in recent weeks.
“What we are witnessing is a classic ‘battle for the desert,’” said a senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, who asked to remain anonymous. “Both groups are seeking to dominate the lucrative illicit economies that fund their operations, and that competition is now spilling over into open warfare.”
Regional governments have condemned the escalations. Burkina Faso’s Ministry of Defense announced the deployment of additional troops to the border region, while Mali’s president called for an emergency meeting of the G5 Sahel joint force to coordinate a response.
Humanitarian agencies warn that further destabilization could exacerbate the already dire humanitarian situation, with over 5 million people in need of aid across the Sahel. The United Nations has urged both factions to respect civilian protection norms, but warned that continued fighting could trigger a broader security crisis.
Looking ahead, experts caution that the JNIM‑ISSP rivalry could fragment jihadist networks, potentially leading to more localized violence but also making counterterrorism operations more complex for regional forces and foreign partners.