Africa's Sahel becomes latest al-Qaeda-IS battleground

West Africa's Sahel region has become the latest scene of jihadist in-fighting, after Islamic State group (IS) revealed it is engaged in fierce clashes with al-Qaeda militants in Mali and Burkina Faso.

IS made the revelation on 7 May in a detailed report in its weekly newspaper al-Naba.

It blamed al-Qaeda's Sahel affiliate, Jamaat Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), for starting the fight and mobilising large forces to attack IS positions in the two countries.

The scenario is familiar. IS and al-Qaeda affiliates have already locked horns in other jihadists hotspots, such as Yemen, Somali and Syria, competing for influence, recruits and resources.

The IS article contradicts mainstream reports from earlier this year that suggested the two groups were collaborating in the region.

The in-fighting could have an impact on jihadist operations against local and foreign troops in the Sahel, where both groups have significantly stepped up attacks since last year.

IS revealed the clashes with JNIM through its weekly newspaper al-Naba
What did IS say?
In its report, IS decried recent al-Qaeda attacks on IS militants in Mali and Burkina Faso, where both groups are active.

It said JNIM, on the orders of its leaders Iyad Ag Ghaly and Amadou Koufa, had amassed big forces to target IS on a number of occasions in both countries since April.

It also complained that JNIM was blocking fuel supplies from reaching IS militants and detaining locals suspected of supporting IS.

This JNIM move, IS said, coincides with an upscale in operations against IS by regional African and French troops in the Sahel.