Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP)

ISWAP came into focus after a joint Nigerian-U.S. military operation in May 2026 killed 175 militants, including senior ISWAP commander Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, in the Lake Chad Basin region.

  • ISWAP is the West African affiliate of the Islamic State (ISIS) and is currently regarded as the most powerful jihadist organisation operating in the Lake Chad Basin.
  • It emerged in 2016 after a split within Boko Haram over leadership, ideology and operational strategies.
  • The group operates across Nigeria, Niger, Chad and Cameroon, exploiting porous borders, weak governance and socio-economic vulnerabilities.
  • The United States has expanded intelligence and military cooperation with Nigeria to counter Islamic State affiliates ....
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