The Sahel Insurgency
A neutral, source-attributed briefing on the Sahel insurgency — a transnational jihadist conflict spanning Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger.
Open the live conflict map → Common questionsLast updated: 2026-08-06 · Evergreen briefing — the live map and the headlines below carry the latest developments.
Key locations: Sahel Insurgency
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Bamakocity12.6392, -8.0029
Capital of Mali and seat of the military government that has led the country since a series of coups beginning in 2020.
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Timbuktucity16.7666, -3.0026
Historic northern Mali city that was blockaded by JNIM militants in 2023, cutting off fuel and food supplies to the population.
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Gaocity16.2666, -0.0500
Major city in northern Mali on the Niger River, a longtime hub for French, UN, and now Russian military operations in the region.
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Niameycity13.5137, 2.1098
Capital of Niger and seat of the military government installed by the 2023 coup that ended Western security cooperation with France and the United States.
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Ouagadougoucity12.3714, -1.5197
Capital of Burkina Faso and seat of the military government that has governed the country since the 2022 coups.
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Liptako-Gourma borderlandsborder14.9000, 0.5000
Tri-border region where Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger meet, the epicenter of the JNIM and Islamic State Sahel Province insurgencies and a large share of global terrorism-related deaths.
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Markoyecity14.9333, 0.0667
Northern Burkina Faso town near the Malian and Nigerien borders that has repeatedly been the site of attacks attributed to Islamic State Sahel Province.
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Diffaborder13.3154, 12.6113
Southeastern Niger city near Lake Chad and the Nigerian border, at the intersection of the Sahel insurgency and the Boko Haram/ISWAP conflict.
Key facts
- The Sahel Insurgency is a transnational insurgency in West Africa / Sahel, currently Active (High intensity).
- The Sahel insurgency is a transnational jihadist conflict concentrated in the tri-border area of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, driven principally by JNIM (al-Qaeda-aligned) and the Islamic State Sahel Province (ISGS). Armed groups operate across porous national borders rather than within them.
- Key actors: JNIM, Islamic State Sahel Province (ISGS), National armies and juntas.
- What's at stake: Regional spillover, Humanitarian crisis, State authority.
Latest developments
The headlines below are pulled automatically from Google News (the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs) and link to primary reporting. They are updated periodically; last refreshed 2026-08-06.
- West Africa and the Sahel: Terrorism is changing its face2026-07-14 — UN News
- Sahel Towns Build Barriers to Slow Terror Threat2026-08-04 — Africa Defense Forum
- Sahel collapse, Mali conflict2026-07-10 — GIS Reports
- Sahel: How this African region became the hub of global jihad2026-07-31 — The Times of India
- Western Withdrawal, Jihadist Expansion: How the Sahel Became Ground Zero for Global Terrorism2026-04-29 — War on the Rocks
- Terrorism 2.0: How the Sahel Is Reshaping Intelligence Geopolitics2026-07-27 — Geopolitical Monitor
- Jihadism is gathering strength in the Sahel2026-07-10 — The Economist
- Jihadist Expansion in the Sahel and Threats to Coastal West Africa2026-04-02 — Vision of Humanity
Overview
The Sahel insurgency is a transnational jihadist conflict concentrated in the tri-border area of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, driven principally by JNIM (al-Qaeda-aligned) and the Islamic State Sahel Province (ISGS). Armed groups operate across porous national borders rather than within them.
This page is an evergreen orientation. Group control, alliances, and the security role of external and regional forces shift continually — confirm the latest figures with the primary sources listed below.
Key actors
- JNIM — the al-Qaeda-aligned coalition of Sahelian armed groups.
- Islamic State Sahel Province (ISGS) — the rival Islamic State affiliate.
- National armies and juntas — the militaries of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger.
- Civilian population — communities facing displacement, blockades, and violence across the tri-border region.
What's at stake
- Regional spillover: expansion toward coastal West African states.
- Humanitarian crisis: mass displacement, blockaded towns, and food insecurity.
- State authority: contested governance and a wave of military coups.
- External realignment: shifting foreign security partnerships in the region.
Sahel Insurgency explained: the key dynamics
A borderless insurgency
The conflict is concentrated in the Mali–Burkina Faso–Niger tri-border area, where armed groups move across porous frontiers. It is best understood as a regional theater rather than three separate national wars.
JNIM versus the Islamic State
Two jihadist blocs dominate: JNIM, aligned with al-Qaeda, and the Islamic State Sahel Province (ISGS). They fight the states and, at times, each other, competing for territory, recruits, and control of rural populations.
Coups and realignment
A wave of military coups has reshaped the region's politics and security partnerships, with juntas turning away from former Western partners and toward new external backers, while violence has continued to spread toward coastal states.
Timeline: how the sahel insurgency unfolded
- 2012 — A rebellion and jihadist takeover in northern Mali triggers French intervention.
- 2015–19 — Violence spreads into central Mali, Burkina Faso, and western Niger.
- 2020–23 — A wave of military coups reshapes politics in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger.
- 2024–26 — Insurgency expands toward coastal West Africa as foreign security arrangements shift.
How this conflict is mapped and tracked
The Sahel is one of ACLED's most closely watched regions, with event data showing violence migrating across borders. Because the conflict is transnational, country-by-country figures understate it; the regional picture matters more. UCDP tracks the jihadist dyads, and fatality estimates are compiled from fragmentary local reporting.
For how these datasets differ, see ACLED vs UCDP vs CFR and our guide to conflict-tracking tools.
How it fits the global picture
This is one of 29 active armed conflict theaters tracked on the Global Armed Conflicts Map. Explore related and concurrent conflicts:
Frequently asked questions
What is the Sahel insurgency?
The Sahel insurgency is a transnational jihadist conflict in West Africa’s Sahel, centered on the Mali–Burkina Faso–Niger tri-border area and driven mainly by JNIM and the Islamic State Sahel Province. Confirm the current status with primary sources such as ACLED, UCDP, and the CFR Global Conflict Tracker.
Who are JNIM and ISGS?
JNIM is an al-Qaeda-aligned coalition of armed groups; ISGS (Islamic State Sahel Province) is a rival Islamic State affiliate. The two compete for territory and recruits across the Sahel.
How can I follow it live?
Use the interactive conflict map to see the Sahel theater alongside 28 other active conflicts, filter by intensity and region, and open intelligence briefings for each.
Which countries are affected by the Sahel insurgency?
The core is the Mali–Burkina Faso–Niger tri-border zone, with growing spillover toward coastal states such as Benin, Togo, and Cote d'Ivoire.
What is JNIM?
JNIM (Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin) is a coalition of al-Qaeda-aligned armed groups operating across the Sahel, and the largest jihadist actor in the region.
Source provenance
- News feed 0 days · as of 2026-08-06
| Date | Change | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-08-06 | Headlines refreshed | News feed |