Misplaced Pages

Islamic State – West Africa Province
ولاية غرب إفريقية West African Province
Logo of the Islamic State's West Africa Province
Dates of operation	2015 – 2016 (as unified group) 2016 – present (after split)
Split from	Boko Haram
Group(s)	Islamic State – Sahel Province (2019-March 2022)
Active regions	Chad Basin (mainly)
Ideology	Ideology of the Islamic State
Size	c. 5,000 (2019)
Part of	Islamic State
Opponents	Nigeria  Benin  Burkina Faso  Cameroon  Chad  Niger Boko Haram

The Islamic State's West Africa Province (ISWAP), officially Wilāyat Garb Ifrīqīyā (Arabic: ولاية غرب إفريقية), meaning "West African Province", is a militant group and administrative division of the Islamic State (IS), a Salafi jihadist militant group and unrecognised quasi-state. ISWAP is primarily active in the Chad Basin, and fights an extensive insurgency against the states of Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Turkey. It is an offshoot of Boko Haram with which it has a violent rivalry; Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau killed himself in battle with ISWAP in 2021. Until March 2022, ISWAP acted as an umbrella organization for all IS factions in West Africa including the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (IS-GS), although the actual ties between ISWAP and IS-GS were limited.

Name

The Islamic State's West Africa Province is officially termed "Wilāyat Garb Ifrīqīyā" (Arabic: ولاية غرب أفريقيا‎), meaning "West African Province". It is known by a variety of other names and abbreviations such as "ISWAP", "IS-WA", and "ISIS-WA". After ISWAP formally absorbed IS-GS, it was also differentiated by experts into two branches, namely "ISWAP-Lake Chad" and "ISWAP-Greater Sahara".

History

ISWAP's origins date back to the emergence of Boko Haram, a Salafi jihadist movement centred in Borno State in northeastern Nigeria. The movement launched an insurgency against the Nigerian government following an unsuccessful uprising in 2009, aiming at establishing an Islamic state in northern Nigeria, and neighbouring regions of Cameroon, Chad and Niger. Its de facto leader Abubakar Shekau attempted to increase his international standing among Islamists by allying with the prominent Islamic State (IS) in March 2015. Boko Haram thus became the "Islamic State's West Africa Province" (ISWAP).

When the insurgents were subsequently defeated and lost almost all of their lands during the 2015 West African offensive by the Multinational Joint Task Force (MJTF), discontent grew among the rebels. Despite orders by the ISIL's central command to stop using women and children as suicide bombers as well as refrain from mass killings of civilians, Shekau refused to change his tactics. Researcher Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi summarized that the Boko Haram leader proved to be "too extreme even by the Islamic State's standards". Shekau had always refused to fully submit to ISIL's central command, and the latter consequently removed him as leader of ISWAP in August 2016. Shekau responded by breaking with ISIL's central command, but many of the rebels stayed loyal to IS. As a result, the rebel movement split into a Shekau-loyal faction ("Jama'at Ahl al-sunna li-l-Da'wa wa-l-Jihad", generally known as "Boko Haram"), and a pro-IS faction led by Abu Musab al-Barnawi (which continued to call itself "Islamic State's West Africa Province"). These two groups have since clashed with each other, though they possibly occasionally cooperated against the local governments. In addition, Shekau never officially renounced his pledge of allegiance to IS as a whole; his forces are thus occasionally regarded as "second branch of ISWAP". Overall, the relation of Shekau with IS remained confused and ambiguous.

In the next years, Barnawi's ISWAP and Shekau's Boko Haram both reconsolidated, though ISWAP grew into the more powerful group. Whereas Shekau had about 1,000 to 2,000 fighters under his command by 2019, the Islamic State loyalists counted up to 5,000 troops. It also changed its tactics, and attempted to win support by local civilians unlike Boko Haram which was known for its extensive indiscriminate violence. ISWAP begun to build up basic government services and focused its efforts on attacking Christian targets instead of Muslim ones. However, the group also continued to attack humanitarian personnel and select Muslim communities. In the course of the Chad Basin campaign (2018–2020), ISWAP had extensive territorial gains before losing many to counter-offensives by the local security forces. At the same time, it experienced a violent internal dispute which resulted in the deposition of Abu Musab al-Barnawi and the execution of several commanders. In the course of 2020, the Nigerian Armed Forces repeatedly attempted to capture the Timbuktu Triangle from ISWAP, but suffered heavy losses and made no progress.

In April 2021, ISWAP overran a Nigerian Army base around Mainok, capturing armoured fighting vehicles including main battle tanks, as well as other military equipment. In the next month, ISWAP attacked and overran Boko Haram's bases in the Sambisa Forest and Abubakar Shekau killed himself. As a result, many Boko Haram fighters defected to ISWAP, and the group secured a chain of strongholds from Nigeria to Mali to southern Libya. Despite this major victory, ISWAP was forced to deal with Boko Haram loyalists who continued to oppose the Islamic State. In August 2021, Abu Musab al-Barnawi was reportedly killed, either in battle with the Nigerian Army or during inter-ISWAP clashes. The accuracy of this claim was questioned by Humangle Media researchers who gathered "multiple sources" suggesting that al-Barnawi had disappeared due to being promoted. Later that month, ISWAP suffered a defeat when attacking Diffa, but successfully raided Rann, destroying the local barracks before retreating with loot. In October and November, there were further leadership changes in ISWAP, as senior commanders were killed by security forces, with Sani Shuwaram becoming the new leading commander.

By January 2022, ISWAP began to increase its presence in Nigeria's Borno State, occupying villages and setting up markets. On 24 January 2022, the small town of Gudumbali was captured, whereupon the insurgents declared it the province's new capital and drove away the local chieftains. Gudumbali is of strategic as well as symbolic importance, as it is placed at a well defendable position and was a major Boko Haram stronghold during the latter group's peak in power. However, Nigerian troops immediately counter-attacked this time, retaking the settlement, destroying the local ISWAP headquarters, and a nearby night market associated with the group. By this point, researchers Rueben Dass and Jasminder Singh argued that ISWAP had become one of IS' most important strongholds. In March, IS central command recognized its Greater Sahara branch as an autonomous province, called the "Sahel Province". Regardless, ISWAP maintained influence over IS forces in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger.

In the following months, however, Nigeria continued its attacks on ISWAP's leadership, killing more top commanders. In June 2022, the Nigerian National Security Council declared that ISWAP was probably responsible for the Owo church attack. As of October 2022, ISWAP had absorbed most of the former Boko Haram groups; even one of Shekau's biological sons, known as Abul Musanna, had joined ISWAP as a commander. However, some Boko Haram factions continued their resistance, joined by Boko Haram defectors to ISWAP who had rebelled and rejoined their comrades. These splinter groups generally avoided fighting ISWAP directly, forcing the IS militants to expend considerable efforts to prevent defections and hunt for Boko Haram loyalists. Despite these difficulties, ISWAP had also expanded its operations into central, northwestern, and southwestern Nigeria. In the west, it began to compete with a reemerged Ansaru, while organizing anti-government ambushes, terrorist attacks, and assassinations. In December, the group pledged allegiance to the new IS caliph, Abu al-Hussein al-Husseini al-Qurashi. Meanwhile, the Battles of Toumbun Allura Kurnawa and Toumbun Gini erupted between ISWAP and Boko Haram. By January 2023, these clashes had ended in a substantial Boko Haram victory and the loss of several ISWAP bases at Lake Chad, though heavy fighting continued during the next months.

From March to June 2023, ISWAP greatly increased the number of small-scale raids in Cameroon's Far North Region, targeting Gassama, Amchide, Fotokol, and Mora among other locations. According to researcher Jacob Zenn, these attacks appeared to be mostly operations to gather loot and supplies as well as spread terror among civilians who refused to pay taxes to IS. The repeated raids caused "severe economic disruption" in northern Cameroon.

Organization

ISWAP's leadership is subordinate to IS's core group headed by its caliph. Initially, ISWAP was headed by a single commander, termed the wali (governor). The group's first overall wali was Abubakar Shekau who was succeeded by Abu Musab al-Barnawi in 2016. The latter was replaced by Ba Idrisa in March 2019 who was in turn purged and executed in 2020. He was replaced by Ba Lawan. In general, the shura, a consultative assembly, holds great power within the group. This has led researcher Jacob Zenn to argue that the shura gives the group an element of "democracy". The shura's influence has allowed ISWAP to expand its popular support, yet has also made it more prone to leadership struggles. Appointments to leadership positions such as the shura or the governorships are discussed internally and by ISIL's core group; IS's core group also has to approve new appointments. In general, journalist Murtala Abdullahi argued that ISWAP mirrors the tendence of the IS core group to release little information on its leaders to the public, making even top commanders like Abu Musab al-Barnawi "elusive" figures.

In May 2021, the shura was temporarily dissolved and Abu Musab al-Barnawi was appointed "caretaker" leader of ISWAP. By July 2021, the shura had been restored, and ISWAP's internal system had been reformed. The regional central command now consists of the Amirul Jaish (military leader) and the shura. There is no longer an overall wali, and the shura's head instead serves as leader of ISWAP's governorates, while the Amirul Jaish acts as chief military commander. "Sa'ad" served as new Amirul Jaish, while Abu Musab al-Barnawi became head of the shura. However, non-IS sources still claim that a position referred to as the overall "wali" or "leader of ISWAP" continues to exist. This position was reportedly filled by ex-chief wali Ba Lawan (also "Abba Gana") before passing to Abu-Dawud (also "Aba Ibrahim"), Abu Musab al-Barnawi, Malam Bako, Sani Shuwaram, Bako Gorgore, and Abu Ibrahim in quick succession in late 2021 and early 2022. In course of 2022, ISWAP continued its reorganization efforts. The group's sub-units (or governorates) were granted a considerable level of autonomy, allowing them to operate as they saw fit and to separately pledge allegiance to the new IS caliph, Abu al-Hussein al-Husseini al-Qurashi.

In March 2019, IS's core group began to portray ISWAP as being responsible for all operations by pro-IS groups in West Africa. Accordingly, the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (IS-GS) was formally put under ISWAP's command. ISWAP and IS-GS maintain logistical connections, but the former's actual influence on the latter is limited. IS-GS was later separated from ISWAP, becoming its own province. Regardless, ISWAP and IS-GS continued to cooperate through the al-Furqan Office in the General Directorate of Provinces. The al-Furqan Office is located in IS-GS territory, but headed by ranking ISWAP commander Abu Bakr ibn Muhammad ibn Ali al-Mainuki (alias "Abubakar Mainok").

In general, ISWAP is known to maintain substantial contacts with IS's core group, although the exact extent of ties is debated among researchers. ISWAP aligns ideologically with IS, and has also adopted many of its technologies and tactics. ISWAP uses suicide vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices and drones typical for IS. Researchers consider these as proof of support and advice by IS members from Syria and Iraq. IS's core group has probably provided ISWAP with not just technical, but also financial aid.

Known offices and leadership

Administration

In contrast to Boko Haram which mostly raided and enslaved civilians, ISWAP is known for setting up an administration in the territories where it is present. By 2022, International Crisis Group researchers estimated that 800,000 to over 3 million civilians lived under ISWAP rule. As IS maintains to be a state despite having lost its territory in the Middle East, ISWAP's ability to run a basic government is ideologically important for all of IS. Despite not fully controlling the areas where it is present, ISWAP maintains more control over large swaths of the countryside than the Nigerian government and had created four governorates by 2021. These governorates, centered at Lake Chad, Sambisa Forest, Timbuktu, and Tumbuma, are each headed by a wali and have their own governing structures. Each governorate has its own military commanders, and sends at least two representatives to ISWAP's shura. By early 2022, ISWAP acknowledged five sub-divisions or governorates, namely Lake Chad, Sambisa, Al Farouq (covering Timbuktu-Alagarno), Kerenoa (close to Lake Chad), and Banki (central Borno). Another sub-division or "cell", "Central Nigeria", became active in the following months, though this one appeared to solely operate as a guerrilla force instead of trying to capture territory. By late 2022, ISWAP's sub-units enjoyed a high level of autonomy.

In addition to funding delivered by IS-Central and supportive international businessmen, ISWAP collects taxes on agriculture, fishing, and trade in its territories. In return, it offers protection as well as some "limited services", including law enforcement. The group appoints its own police chiefs, and its police also enforces the hisbah. In ISWAP-held areas, the sharia law is enforced, including severe punishments such as the amputation of hands of thieves and the execution of adulterers. The sharia courts also offer to settle disputes over cattle rustling and various other crimes, winning some acceptance among the rural population. ISWAP also punishes its own fighters who commit unauthorized abuses toward civilians.

The group makes considerable efforts to win local grassroots support, and has employed a "hearts and minds" policy toward the local communities. It encourages locals to live in de facto rebel-held communities. Among its taxes, ISWAP also collects the zakat, a traditional Muslim tax and form of almsgiving which is used to provide for the poor. ISWAP's zakat has been featured in propaganda distributed by IS's newspaper, al-Naba. ISWAP's "Zakat Office" is known to operate fairly systematically and effectively, raising substantial funds to support both ISWAP as well as local civilians. Experts Tricia Bacon and Jason Warner have described ISWAP's taxation system as being locally less corrupt and more fair than that of the Nigerian state; some local traders argue that ISWAP creates a better environment for trade in rice, fish, and dried pepper. However, ISWAP militants are also known to kill those who refuse to pay taxes. The group also provides various health services, builds public toilets and boreholes, and has implemented its own education system based on Jihadist literature. At the same time, ISWAP is known for targeting agencies providing humanitarian aid, thereby depriving locals of basic necessities in government-held areas. It has also massacred civilians who collaborate with the local governments or disobey ISWAP orders, as well as persecuted the Christian minority in its territory.

In 2022, Nigeria announced its intention to redesign its currency in an effort to combat corruption and the financing of terrorism. ISWAP responded by declaring that from then on, people should pay their taxes to the group in CFA franc.

Military strength

ISWAP's strength has fluctuated over the years, and estimates accordingly vary. In 2017, researchers put its strength at around 5,000 militants. By the next year, it was believed to have shrunk to circa 3,000. The group experienced a surge and regained much power in 2019, resulting in researchers estimating that it had grown to 5,000 or up to 18,000 fighters. By 2020, the United States Department of Defense publicly estimated that ISWAP had 3,500 to 5,000 fighters. By late 2022, ISWAP's governorates appeared to differ in their tactics and equipment, ranging from the Lake Chad subdivision which deploys large numbers of uniformed, well-armed troops to the members of the "Central Nigeria" cell that is small in numbers and specializes in covert warfare and terrorist attacks. In times of manpower shortages, ISWAP forcibly conscripts civilians into its ranks. Though these conscriptions can be direct in the form of militants entering villages and rounding up men, the group has also used economic pressure by raising very high taxes and then offering tax exemptions for those willing to take up arms.

ISWAP is known to employ inghimasi forlorn hope/suicide attack shock troops as well as armoured fighting vehicles (AVFs). Throughout its history, ISWAP has repeatedly seized tanks including T-55s, and armoured personnel carriers such as the BTR-4EN, and then pressed them into service. The group also relies heavily on motorcycles, technicals, and captured military tactical/utility vehicles such as Kia KLTVs and CS/VP3 "Bigfoot" MRAPs. ISWAP is also capable of building armored improvised fighting vehicles, using parts of captured military vehicles.

In addition, ISWAP has established a "Khilafah Cadet School" for 8-16 old boys. These are carefully selected, indoctrinated and given physical as well as military training. The child soldiers were featured in an ISWAP propaganda video titled "The Empowerment Generation", showing them executing captured Nigerian soldiers. IS-Central had utilized child soldiers known as "Cubs of the Caliphate" from 2014 to 2017.

Notes

1. ^ A border area between Nigeria's Borno and Yobe states is known as the "Timbuktu Triangle". The area is covered by the Alagarno forest. The Timbuktu Triangle should not be confused with the city of Timbuktu in Mali.

References

1. Defence Technology News (18 May 2021). "Who are Boko Haram and what are their goals?". Medium.com. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
2. ^ Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi (28 March 2021). "The Islamic State's Imposition of Zakat in West Africa". Retrieved 28 July 2021.
3. ^ "Boko Haram and the Islamic State's West Africa Province" (PDF). Congressional Research Service. 26 March 2021. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
4. ^ Bacon & Warner 2021, p. 80.
5. TRADOC G-2 2015, pp. 2–5.
6. ^ Thomas Joscelyn; Caleb Weiss (17 January 2019). "Thousands flee Islamic State West Africa offensive in northeast Nigeria". Long War Journal. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
7. ^ Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi (5 August 2018). "The Islamic State West Africa Province vs. Abu Bakr Shekau: Full Text, Translation and Analysis". Retrieved 17 August 2018.
8. ^ Warner & Hulme 2018, pp. 21–22.
9. Jason Burke; Emmanuel Akinwotu (20 May 2021). "Boko Haram leader tried to kill himself during clash with rivals, officials claim". Guardian. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
10. Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi (28 June 2021). "The Defeat of Abu Bakr Shekau's Group in Sambisa Forest". Retrieved 29 June 2021.
11. Warner & Hulme 2018, p. 22.
12. ^ Danielle Paquette (21 May 2021). "Is Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau dead this time? The Nigerian military is investigating". Washington Post. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
13. ^ Bassim Al-Hussaini (3 March 2020). "New ISWAP boss slays five rebel leaders, silences clerical tones". Premium Times. Retrieved 30 April 2020.
14. Zenn 2020, pp. 6–7.
15. "Nigeria Troops Overrun ISWAP Jihadist Camps in Northeast". Defense Post. 5 February 2021. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
16. ^ Murtala Abdullahi (8 December 2020). "ISWAP Captures Newly Inducted Nigerian Army Armoured Vehicle". Humangle. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
17. ^ "Boko Haram Releases Photos Of Newly Acquired Armoured Tanks, Operation Vehicles, Others Captured From Nigerian Army". Sahara Reporters. 28 April 2021. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
18. "ISWAP militant group says Nigeria's Boko Haram leader is dead". Reuters. 7 June 2021. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
19. ^ Jason Burke; Emmanuel Akinwotu (20 May 2021). "Boko Haram leader tried to kill himself during clash with rivals, officials claim". Guardian. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
20. ^ Jason Burke (22 May 2021). "Rise of Isis means Boko Haram's decline is no cause for celebration". Guardian. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
21. "Abubakar Shekau's Boko Haram Faction Confirms Death Of Leader, Issues Fresh Threats". Sahara Reporters. 15 June 2021. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
22. ^ "Vicious ISWAP leader, Al-Barnawi, killed". Daily Trust. 15 September 2021. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
23. "Notorious Boko Haram, Islamic State Leader, Al-Barnawi Killed In Borno". Sahara Reporters. 15 September 2021. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
24. ^ Aliyu Dahiru (1 October 2022). "ISWAP Rebrands, Expands Scope Of Operations". Humangle Media. Retrieved 8 December 2022.
25. Maina Maina (26 August 2021). "7 soldiers, 43 terrorists killed as MNJTF battles Boko Haram, ISWAP in Diffa". Daily Post. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
26. Wale Odunsi (1 September 2021). "Borno: ISWAP claims 10 Nigerian troops died in Rann attack". Daily Post. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
27. ^ Wale Odunsi (6 November 2021). "ISIS crowns Sani Shuwaram as new ISWAP leader". Daily Post. Retrieved 8 November 2021.
28. Maina, Maina (26 January 2022). "Troops battle ISWAP in Borno, dislodge caliphate HQ, recover Gudumbali". Daily Post. Retrieved 7 February 2022.
29. Abiola, Adetokunbo (1 February 2022). "Nigerian Army Destroys Islamic State HQ in Gudumbali". Defense Post. Retrieved 7 February 2022.
30. Dass & Singh 2022, p. 4.
31. Kate Chesnutt; Katherine Zimmerman (8 September 2022). "The State of al Qaeda and ISIS Around the World". Critical Threats. Retrieved 8 December 2022.
32. ^ Maina Maina (14 May 2022). "ISWAP commanders, Bako Gorgore, Abu Ibrahim killed in airstrike in Borno". Daily Post. Retrieved 10 June 2022.
33. Burke, Jason (2022-06-09). "Islamic State affiliate suspected of Catholic church massacre, Nigeria says". the Guardian. Retrieved 2022-06-09.
34. ^ Crisis Group 2022, p. 2.
35. ^ Aliyu Dahiru (1 October 2022). "ISWAP Rebrands, Expands Scope Of Operations". Humangle. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
36. Crisis Group 2022, pp. 5–6.
37. ^ Murtala Abdullahi (8 December 2022). "ISWAP's Pledge To New ISIS Leader Shows Transformation". Humangle. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
38. Crisis Group 2024, pp. 1–2.
39. Uthman, Samad (January 11, 2023). "ISWAP fighters surrender in Niger Republic after 'fleeing from Boko Haram attacks'". The Cable. Retrieved November 24, 2023.
40. Iyorah, Festus. "Rivalry among Boko Haram factions compounds violence in northern Nigeria". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2023-11-24.
41. Zenn 2023a.
42. ^ Zenn 2020, p. 6.
43. ^ Malik Samuel (13 July 2021). "Islamic State fortifies its position in the Lake Chad Basin". Institute for Security Studies. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
44. Zenn 2020, p. 7.
45. Murtala Abdullahi (15 December 2022). "Counter Terrorism Operations Squeeze Islamic State Despite Elusive Leadership". Humangle. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
46. Zenn 2021, p. 1.
47. Ahmad Salkida (21 May 2021). "What Shekau's Death Means For Security In Nigeria, Lake Chad". Humangle. Retrieved 18 June 2021.
48. ^ "ISWAP-Boko Haram Reshuffles 'Cabinet', Imposes Levies On Agricultural, Trade Activities In Nigerian Communities". Sahara Reporters. 4 July 2021. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
49. ^ Wale Odunsi (18 August 2021). "ISWAP reshuffles Nigerian leaders after ISIS order". Daily Post. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
50. ^ Zenn 2023c.
51. ^ Jacob Zenn (10 December 2018). "Is Boko Haram's notorious leader about to return from the dead again?". African Arguments. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
52. ^ "Islamic Militants' Deadly Resurgence Threatens Nigeria Polls". Voice of America. Associated Press. 12 February 2019. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
53. "Air force allegedly kill ISWAP leader, Sani Shuwaram, others". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 20 March 2022. Archived from the original on 28 January 2023. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
54. Prnigeria (20 March 2022). "JUST IN: ISWAP Leader, Shuwaram Killed after NAF Airstrikes…. Gorgore in as Replacement". PRNigeria News. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
55. ^ Wale Odunsi (21 September 2021). "Boko Haram appoints deputy leader as ISWAP redeploys commanders". Daily Post. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
56. ^ "Nigerian official says new leader of ISIL-linked group killed". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 2021-10-26.
57. "After attack on rival, IS jihadists battle for control in northeast Nigeria". France24. 4 June 2021. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
58. Abdulkareem Haruna (13 January 2021). "Multinational forces 'kill top ISWAP commander'". Premium Times. Retrieved 7 August 2021.
59. "ISWAP Fighters Arrest Shekau's Commanders, Meet with Surrendered Top Boko Haram Members". Sahara Reporters. 26 May 2021. Retrieved 7 August 2021.
60. ^ "Chaos as Boko Haram/ISWAP executes its own 'governor of Lake Chad' in power struggle". Reuben Abati Media. 28 July 2020. Archived from the original on 7 August 2021. Retrieved 7 August 2021.
61. ^ Kunle Adebajo (21 May 2021). "How Did Abubakar Shekau Die? Here's What We Know So Far". Humangle. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
62. "Military Airstrike Kills Child Jihadist Named After Boko Haram's Founder". Sahara Reporters. 12 February 2022. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
63. Otto, David (4 December 2020). "NIGERIAN AIRSTRIKE KILLS NOTORIOUS ISWAP GOVERNOR-AMIR GONI MAINA". Eons Intelligence. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
64. Crisis Group 2022, p. 12.
65. "Death of Boko Haram's leader spells trouble for Nigeria and its neighbors". DW. 8 June 2021. Retrieved 10 June 2021.
66. ^ Dulue Mbachu (17 June 2021). "Death of Boko Haram leader doesn't end northeast Nigeria's humanitarian crisis". The New Humanitarian. Retrieved 18 June 2021.
67. Zenn 2023b.
68. ^ Abdulkareem Haruna (12 November 2022). "ISWAP Collects Taxes In CFA As Nigeria Government Plans Currency Redesign". Humangle. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
69. Crisis Group 2022, pp. 10–11.
70. Bacon & Warner 2021, p. 81.
71. Crisis Group 2022, p. 10.
72. Warner & Hulme 2018, p. 23.
73. "Islamic Militants' Deadly Resurgence Threatens Nigeria Polls". Voice of America. Associated Press. 12 February 2019. Archived from the original on 28 February 2019. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
74. "IS Down But Still a Threat in Many Countries". Voice of America. 24 April 2019. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
75. Abdulkareem Haruna (7 March 2022). "Fishermen Fleeing Lake Chad Over Forced Conscription, Taxes By ISWAP". Humangle. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
76. Fergus Kelly (10 April 2019). "Niger gendarmes killed and hostages taken in latest Islamic State attack in Diffa". Defense Post. Retrieved 19 April 2019.
77. James Reinl (19 April 2019). "How stolen weapons keep groups like Boko Haram in business". Public Radio International. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
78. "IS claims responsibility for Niger attack which killed 71: SITE". France24. 12 December 2019. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
79. Joe Parkinson; Drew Hinshaw (12 December 2019). "Islamic State, Seeking Next Chapter, Makes Inroads Through West Africa". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
80. Dass & Singh 2022, p. 3.
81. Dass & Singh 2022, pp. 3–4.

Works cited

• "After Shekau: Confronting Jihadists in Nigeria's North East" (PDF). Africa Briefing. Brussels, Dakar: Crisis Group. 29 March 2022.
• Bacon, Tricia; Warner, Jason (2021). "Twenty Years After 9/11: The Threat in Africa—The New Epicenter of Global Jihadi Terror" (PDF). CTC Sentinel. 14 (7). West Point, New York: Combating Terrorism Center: 76–90. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2021-09-08. Retrieved 2021-09-24.
• Warner, Jason; Hulme, Charlotte (2018). "The Islamic State in Africa: Estimating Fighter Numbers in Cells Across the Continent" (PDF). CTC Sentinel. 11 (7). West Point, New York: Combating Terrorism Center: 21–28. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2019-08-08. Retrieved 2021-07-25.
• TRADOC G-2 (2015). Threat Tactics Report: Boko Haram (PDF). Fort Eustis: United States Army Training and Doctrine Command.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
• Dass, Rueben; Singh, Jasminder (11 March 2022). "Islamic State in West Africa Province Video Signals the Group's Grand Strategy for the Future" (PDF). Terrorism Monitor. 20 (5). Jamestown Foundation: 3–5.
• "JAS vs. ISWAP: The War of the Boko Haram Splinters" (PDF). Africa Briefing (196). Brussels, Dakar: Crisis Group. 28 March 2024.
• Zenn, Jacob (20 March 2020). "Islamic State in West Africa Province and the Battle With Boko Haram" (PDF). Terrorism Monitor. 18 (6). Jamestown Foundation: 6–8.
• Zenn, Jacob (24 May 2021). "Killing of Boko Haram Leader Abubakar Shekau Boosts Islamic State in Nigeria" (PDF). Terrorism Monitor. 19 (10). Jamestown Foundation: 1–2.
• Zenn, Jacob (June 2023). "Brief: Cameroonian President Holds Emergency Meeting to Address ISWAP Attacks". Terrorism Monitor. 21 (12). Jamestown Foundation.
• Zenn, Jacob (August 2023). "Malam Bana Musaid Reflects on His Time as Boko Haram's "Number Four"". Militant Leadership Monitor. 14 (6). Jamestown Foundation.
• Zenn, Jacob (August 2023). "Abubakar Mainok: ISWAP's Sahel-Based al-Furqan Representative". Militant Leadership Monitor. 14 (7). Jamestown Foundation.

Further reading

• Warner, Jason; O'Farrell, Ryan; Nsaibia, Héni; Cummings, Ryan (2020). "Outlasting the Caliphate: The Evolution of the Islamic State Threat in Africa" (PDF). CTC Sentinel. 13 (11). West Point, New York: Combating Terrorism Center: 18–33. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2022-02-07. Retrieved 2021-07-28.

• 2015 establishments in Nigeria
• Factions of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant
• Boko Haram insurgency
• Islamic extremism in Northern Nigeria
• Islamic terrorism in Africa
• Islamic terrorism in Nigeria
• Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant in Nigeria
• Islamist groups
• Jihadist groups
• Rebel groups in Nigeria