Islamic State Sahel Province, ex-ISGS (founded 2015 by Adnan Abu Walid al-Sahrawi, killed 2021), a full province since 2022. Core zone: Ménaka, Ansongo, Tillabéri, Tahoua and Oudalan. Spreads into NW Nigeria (the Lakurawa link). Took Labbezanga in Apr 2026. In renewed open war with JNIM (Oct 2026); claims 400+ JNIM killed at Gonadaouri.
Leader(s): Abu al-Bara al-Sahrawi
Origin: Mali/Niger (Fulani, Arab, Tuareg)
Area of operation: Gao & Ménaka, Liptako-Gourma tri-border, Burkina Sahel (Djibo, Oudalan, Dori), Tillabéri, Tahoua, Niamey, Northwest Nigeria (Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara)
Recent (to 21 Oct 2026)
- ISSP freed the Austrian Eva Gretzmacher and the Swiss Claudia Abbt (kidnapped in Agadez in 2025) for ransom on ~10 Sep; both reached Benghazi (C2, Sahel Monitor, t.me/sahelmonitor/216, 11 Sep 2026).
- IS claims 731 JNIM killed or wounded in 2026, more than the 705 it reported over the previous four years combined (al-Naba) (C3, Sahel Monitor, t.me/sahelmonitor/454, 13 Oct 2026). Later claims (600+ dead, 300 motorcycles seized, ‘200 km’ taken) are party figures (C4, Sahel Monitor, t.me/sahelmonitor/433, 11 Oct 2026).
- 31 Jul: suspected ISSP attack on an army position at Dankassari (Dosso region), reportedly 21 soldiers killed including an officer; single-source (METIS via Zagazola Makama) (C3, Faytuks News Discord (west-africa-sahel) via @BrantPhilip_, x.com/BrantPhilip_/status/2083924580482105655, 2 Aug 2026).
- Resource sites: suspected in the Feb 2025 kidnapping of two CNPC workers near the Agadem oil block; contests the Tessit artisanal gold zone and Burkina Sahel artisanal gold belt with JNIM.
Relationships
- Province of: Islamic State (central)
- Fights: JNIM
- Fights: FAMa (Mali)
- Fights: FAN (Niger)
- Fights: MSA
- Fights: GATIA
- Linked to: Lakurawa
- Fights: Burkina Faso armed forces
Referenced by
- Africa Corps (Fights)
- Agadem oil block (Kidnapping near field (Feb 2025, suspected))
- April 2026 FLA-JNIM offensive (Exploited by)
- Burkina Faso armed forces (Fights)
- Burkina Sahel artisanal gold belt (Contested by)
- Dabagu and Abala–Filingué attacks (Sep 2026) (Attacker)
- Essakane gold mine (Area contested by)
- FAMa (Mali) (Fights)
- FAN (Niger) (Fights)
- France (Barkhane) (Fought)
- GATIA (Fights)
- Intahaka artisanal gold site (Taxed (historically))
- Islamic State (central) (Parent of)
- JNIM (Fights)
- JNIM-ISSP Oudalan clashes (Oct 2026) (Belligerent)
- Komabangou artisanal gold site (Area contested by)
- Lakurawa (Linked to (disputed))
- MSA (Fights)
- Ménaka camps massacre (Oct 2026) (Attributed to (unclaimed))
- Niger self-defence militias (Fights)
- Tessit artisanal gold zone (Contested by)
- VDP (Burkina Faso) (Fights)