New round of the al-Qaeda vs IS turf war in the Liptako-Gourma. Monitoring channels show it building from early Sep (N’daki/Ikacham, Timbuktu region, 1 Sep; Talataye 11 Sep; Ntillit and Tessit 28 Sep). Mondafrique dates the main phase to 7 Oct at Tessit (JNIM won); a major battle followed ~9 Oct at Gonadaouri/Ganadouri (Oudalan, Burkina). ISSP claims 400+ JNIM killed, which would be the deadliest ever between them per ACLED; one monitoring estimate is ~60. JNIM is reportedly massing ~150+ fighters from central Mali near Tin Akoff for revenge (14 Oct).
Area of operation: Burkina Sahel (Djibo, Oudalan, Dori), Liptako-Gourma tri-border, Gao & Ménaka
Recent (to 21 Oct 2026)
- 1 Sep: ISSP–JNIM clash near N’daki/Ikacham (Timbuktu region); pro-JNIM sources acknowledged hours of fighting and IS claimed ‘hundreds’ killed (C3, Sahel Monitor, t.me/sahelmonitor/172, 1 Sep 2026), (D3, Departamente, t.me/departamente/8111, 2 Sep 2026).
- IS (al-Naba) claims JNIM sent 3,000+ fighters toward Oudalan, that IS broke through in 90 minutes, pursued them 80 km and executed dozens of prisoners (C4, Sahel Monitor, t.me/sahelmonitor/469, 15 Oct 2026). Fires detected near Tessit and Arbinda on 14–16 Oct (C2, Sahel Monitor, t.me/sahelmonitor/483, 16 Oct 2026).
Relationships
Referenced by
- Burkina Sahel artisanal gold belt (Context)
- Tessit artisanal gold zone (Context)