Country Report on Terrorism 2020 - Chapter 5 - ISIS-Greater Sahara

ISIS-Greater Sahara

Aka ISIS in the Greater Sahara (ISIS-GS); Islamic State in the Greater Sahel (ISGS); Islamic State in the Greater Sahara; Islamic State of the Greater Sahel; ISIS in the Greater Sahel; ISIS in the Islamic Sahel

Description:  ISIS in the Greater Sahara (ISIS-GS) was designated as an FTO on May 23, 2018.  ISIS-GS emerged when leader Adnan Abu Walid al-Sahrawi and his followers split from al-Murabitoun.  Al-Sahrawi first pledged allegiance to ISIS in 2015, which was acknowledged by ISIS in 2016.

Activities:  In 2016, ISIS-GS claimed responsibility for an attack on a military post in Intangom, Burkina Faso, that killed three Burkinabe soldiers.

In 2017, ISIS-GS claimed responsibility for an attack on a joint U.S.-Nigerien patrol in the region of Tongo Tongo, Niger, which killed four U.S. soldiers and five Nigerien soldiers.  In 2018, ISIS-GS was reportedly involved in numerous skirmishes and attacks in Mali and Niger, including those that targeted French troops and civilians. In 2019, ISIS-GS attacked a Malian military base, killing 54 soldiers.

In January, ISIS-GS militants attacked a Nigerien military base on the border between Niger and Mali, killing 89 soldiers.  In August, ISIS-GS was suspected of killing six French NGO workers, their Nigerien guide, and one other Nigerien citizen near Niamey, Niger.  In November, ISIS-GS claimed responsibility for an attack on Burkinabe soldiers in Oudalan province, Burkina Faso, killing 14 soldiers.

Strength:  Precise numbers are unknown.

Location/Area of Operation:  Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger

Funding and External Aid:  Sources of funding are unknown.