A violent internal power struggle has reportedly erupted within the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), with several fighters feared dead after rival commanders engaged in a fierce gun battle at the group’s stronghold in the Timbuktu Triangle.
According to intelligence sources, the clash broke out on Friday after senior commanders disagreed over a planned attack scheduled for the previous night.
Sources said one commander, identified as Abu Ali, allegedly refused to deploy fighters under his command for the operation, prompting another senior commander to accuse him of sabotaging the mission and questioning his loyalty to the group.
The disagreement reportedly escalated into a gunfight between the rival factions inside the enclave in the Timbuktu Triangle, one of ISWAP’s key operational bases in the Lake Chad region.
Security sources said several fighters were feared dead during the exchange, while one of the rival commanders reportedly died from injuries sustained in the clash. Authorities are still working to confirm the identities of those involved and the exact casualty figure.
The incident is believed to be one of the most significant internal clashes within ISWAP in recent months, exposing growing divisions within the group’s leadership.
Intelligence sources linked the confrontation to weeks of mounting tension among commanders over operational decisions, dwindling resources and the management of logistics within the enclave.
According to the sources, the disagreement over the aborted operation merely exposed deeper rivalries, with commanders increasingly competing for influence, manpower and control of supplies.
The Timbuktu Triangle has long served as one of ISWAP’s principal operational bases, housing commanders, training camps and logistics facilities used to coordinate attacks across the Lake Chad Basin.
Security analysts believe the latest clash could temporarily weaken the group’s operational capacity as mistrust spreads among commanders and fighters.
“The incident has created divisions within the camp. There is now suspicion among different factions, and this could affect decision-making, logistics and operational planning until the leadership is able to reassert control,” one intelligence source said.
Sources also warned that the reported death of a senior commander could trigger retaliatory attacks within the group, further deepening internal divisions.
The clash comes amid sustained military offensives targeting ISWAP’s commanders, logistics networks and movement across the Lake Chad region.
Although the group remains capable of carrying out attacks, security analysts say continued military pressure has intensified competition over scarce resources, exposing cracks within its command structure and increasing the likelihood of further internal conflict.
