In a significant escalation of intra-jihadist rivalry in the Sahel, fighters from the al-Qaeda-affiliated Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) have launched a deadly attack on Islamic State militants in northern Burkina Faso, killing several in a direct confrontation between the two terror groups. The assault took place in the Bonbofa area of Dori province, according to a statement issued by Az-Zallaqa, JNIM’s official media wing, on July 8. The group claimed responsibility for the operation, describing it as a “targeted attack” on an ISIS unit operating in the region.
This latest incident marks a continuation of hostilities between JNIM and ISIS in the Greater Sahara (ISGS), two rival jihadist factions vying for territorial control and influence across the central Sahel. The two groups have previously clashed in Burkina Faso, with earlier encounters resulting in heavy casualties on both sides.
The intensifying conflict between these militant outfits underscores the deepening instability in Burkina Faso, where state control has been significantly eroded by years of insurgency. Analysts note that intra-jihadist violence has compounded the security crisis, with local communities caught in the crossfire between rival extremist factions.
While government forces struggle to reclaim lost ground, the battlefield dynamics among non-state actors are shifting rapidly, with JNIM’s latest strike reflecting a tactical effort to weaken ISIS presence in the volatile northern provinces.
Regional and international observers continue to monitor the situation closely, warning that the ongoing jihadist infighting could further destabilize an already fragile security landscape in West Africa.
