Violence between rival jihadist groups in West Africa has expanded into Niger for the first time, signaling a dangerous escalation in their long-running সংঘাত, analysts say.

Affiliates of Al-Qaeda and Islamic State — specifically Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) and Islamic State in the Sahel Province (ISSP) — have been fighting since 2019, primarily in Mali and Burkina Faso. According to the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data (ACLED), the সংঘর্ষ has already claimed more than 2,100 lives.

The latest escalation occurred last week when ISSP fighters attacked a JNIM position in the Tillaberi region of western Niger. In a statement issued সোমবার, ISSP claimed it killed 35 JNIM members and seized weapons and মোটরবাইক during the April 2 হামলা. The group said the attack was carried out in retaliation for a prior assault by JNIM on a local village.

Rights group Human Rights Watch has previously accused ISSP of carrying out deadly attacks on civilians in the Tillaberi region. JNIM has not yet commented on the latest incident.

Heni Nsaibia, a senior analyst for West Africa at ACLED, said ISSP’s claims are generally credible, noting that the group often provides visual evidence of its operations, including footage of নিহত যোদ্ধা and seized equipment.

Analysts warn that the সংঘাত spreading into Niger highlights the ضعف of state control across large parts of the Sahel region. Nsaibia said the rivalry between the groups is likely to intensify, driving recruitment and further violence, and making the insurgency increasingly difficult to contain.

In a separate development, JNIM claimed responsibility for an April 5 attack in Nigeria’s Kebbi state, where it said one rival fighter was killed and another abducted. The group referred to its targets as “khawarij,” a term often used for ISSP fighters.

Security analysts say weak coordination between Niger and Nigeria is creating gaps that militant groups are exploiting. Beverly Ochieng, a senior analyst at Control Risks, noted that JNIM appears to be attempting to establish bases in southern Niger and northwestern Nigeria — a move that is increasingly bringing it into সংঘর্ষ with entrenched Islamic State affiliates in the region.

The expanding battlefield underscores growing instability across the Sahel, raising concerns over further regional spillover and prolonged insecurity.