Two of the most powerful armed organisations operating in the Sahel are increasingly turning their weapons against each other, opening another dangerous front in Burkina Faso’s prolonged security crisis.
The latest clashes involve Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), an al-Qaeda affiliate, and the Islamic State affiliate known as Islamic State Sahel Province (ISSP).
Their confrontations have intensified since September, particularly near Burkina Faso’s northern border with Mali.
Both organisations compete for territory, influence, and access to communities in the borderlands. Their rivalry has produced several major battles, with each side seeking to weaken the other’s presence.
The fighting comes at a difficult time for Burkina Faso’s military government, which has struggled to restore state authority across large parts of the country.
According to an investigation published by Al Jazeera on 13 November 2026, the growing confrontation between the two groups is exposing the complexity of the security crisis: even as militant organisations fight among themselves, government forces continue to face pressure on multiple fronts.
Disputed claims over battlefield casualties
One of the most significant confrontations reportedly took place near Kacham, close to the Malian border, in early September.
ISSP claimed that it had killed more than 200 JNIM fighters, captured dozens of others and seized weapons and motorcycles. However, the reported figures have not been independently verified.
Another major battle occurred on 9 October around Ganadaouri in Burkina Faso’s northern Oudalan province.
The Islamic State group's publication, Al-Naba, subsequently claimed that more than 400 JNIM fighters had died in the fighting. JNIM did not publicly respond to the figure, and independent confirmation has not established the actual number of casualties.
On 1 November, ISSP published photographs that it presented as evidence of its victory. Regional outlet i-Sahel counted at least 120 bodies in the images but said it could not independently confirm their connection to the reported battle.
The difference between the number of bodies visible in the photographs and the much higher figure claimed by ISSP illustrates why casualty announcements from armed organisations must be treated cautiously.
A long-running rivalry between extremist groups
The confrontation is not new. JNIM and ISSP have competed for territory and influence across the Sahel since 2019.
Although both groups oppose regional governments and seek to expand their armed presence, they have different ideological and organisational objectives.
JNIM is affiliated with al-Qaeda and operates through a network of armed factions across Mali, Burkina Faso and neighbouring countries.
ISSP is aligned with the Islamic State organization and seeks to expand its own territorial influence and authority.
Their competition has involved attacks on fighters, disputes over local populations and attempts to control strategic areas.
Conflict-monitoring organization Armed Conflict Location & Event Data (ACLED) has recorded approximately 320 confrontations between the groups and more than 2,200 fighter deaths since the rivalry began.
The latest escalation suggests that competition between the organizations is becoming increasingly costly for both sides.
Government forces struggle to regain control
While the two militant organizations fight for dominance, Burkina Faso's military government is facing a wider challenge in defending its territory.
JNIM has maintained a strong presence in several parts of the country, including northern, north-central, western and eastern regions.
In February 2026, the group launched a major offensive against military positions and state-backed Volunteers for the Defence of the Homeland (VDP).
ACLED documented more than 30 attacks during the campaign, which resulted in the deaths of more than 120 soldiers, forest guards and militia members, according to the monitoring organization.
The attacks demonstrated the continuing difficulties facing the country's security forces, despite repeated military operations intended to contain the insurgency.
The government could benefit temporarily if JNIM is forced to divert fighters and resources away from attacks on state forces to defend itself against ISSP.
However, the rivalry does not automatically mean that government forces will regain control of contested areas. ISSP could use the weakening of its rival to expand its own influence.
Civilians remain caught between armed groups
For residents of northern Burkina Faso and neighbouring border communities, the fighting has added another layer of uncertainty to an already dangerous environment.
Years of violence have disrupted farming, trade, education and access to essential services. Many communities face restrictions on movement, while insecurity has forced families to abandon their homes.
United Nations humanitarian planning figures estimate that approximately 4.5 million people in Burkina Faso will need humanitarian assistance in 2026.
The last consolidated official estimate of internally displaced people, published in March 2023, recorded approximately 2.1 million. That figure should not be interpreted as a current count, but it illustrates the scale of displacement caused by the conflict.
A Nigerien citizen interviewed by Al Jazeera described the possibility of the two groups weakening each other as a potential source of relief for families living in affected border areas.
However, the wider humanitarian situation remains uncertain, particularly if fighting spreads or armed groups intensify their efforts to control local communities.
The conflict threatens to spread further across West Africa
The rivalry between JNIM and ISSP is increasingly affecting areas beyond Burkina Faso and Mali.
ACLED has documented the expansion of their confrontations into Niger's Tillaberi and Dosso regions, as well as Nigeria's Kebbi State.
The development is particularly concerning for countries along the Gulf of Guinea, where governments are seeking to prevent armed groups from establishing stronger networks.
Security analyst Viraj Pattni told Al Jazeera that JNIM's growing activity in parts of Mali and Burkina Faso could increase pressure on neighbouring countries, including Benin and Togo.
He pointed to porous borders, social marginalization and tensions within communities as factors that could make some areas more vulnerable to militant expansion.
The concerns highlight the regional nature of the crisis. Instability in one country can quickly affect neighbouring states through cross-border attacks, displacement and the movement of armed fighters.
JNIM forced to divide its resources
For Heni Nsaibia of ACLED, the growing confrontation could have important consequences for JNIM's operations.
He argued that repeated clashes with ISSP are forcing the al-Qaeda-linked organization to divert fighters and resources from its campaign against government forces and allied militias.
That pressure could reduce its ability to launch attacks in some areas, at least temporarily.
However, the outcome of the rivalry remains uncertain. If ISSP continues to gain ground, it could emerge as a more serious threat to governments and civilians across the region.
For Burkina Faso, the immediate challenge is to prevent the fighting between rival organizations from becoming another opportunity for armed groups to expand their territorial control.
The government may gain some temporary relief from the militants' internal conflict, but lasting improvements in security will depend on its ability to protect communities, restore public services and regain control of areas affected by violence.
For millions of people living across the Sahel, the priority remains an end to the violence rather than a change in which armed organization controls their territory.
