Fresh internal fighting has reportedly broken out within the ranks of the Islamic State West Africa Province, with commanders and fighters allegedly engaging in deadly clashes following disagreements over a failed operation.
According to reports, one of the confrontations took place in the Timbuktu Triangle area of Borno State, where a dispute between senior field commanders over the planning and execution of an operation escalated into an armed confrontation.
The exchange of gunfire reportedly left several ISWAP fighters dead, further exposing growing divisions within the insurgent group.
Counter-insurgency experts monitoring developments in the Lake Chad region attributed the reported infighting to the sustained military offensive being carried out by the Nigerian Armed Forces and the Nigerian Air Force.
According to the analysts, the coordinated air and ground operations have significantly weakened ISWAP’s operational capacity and placed the group under mounting pressure.
The experts further explained that the continued military campaign has depleted the insurgents’ resources, increased desperation among their fighters, and created confusion within the group’s leadership, factors they believe have contributed to the latest internal clashes.
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