Several members of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) were reportedly killed after rival commanders exchanged gunfire following a disagreement over a planned attack in the Timbuktu Triangle.
According to a Daily Post report published on Sunday, June 28, 2026, counter-terrorism expert Zagazola Makama disclosed in a post on X that the clash stemmed from a dispute among senior field commanders over the execution of an operation scheduled for the previous night.
The report said a commander identified as Abu Ali refused to allow fighters under his command to participate in the planned assault, prompting another senior commander to accuse him of undermining the mission and question his loyalty to the group.
Sources indicated the confrontation reflected long-standing internal tensions over operational strategy, dwindling resources, logistics, and competition for influence among commanders. The failed operation reportedly exposed deepening divisions within ISWAP, with rival leaders increasingly competing for manpower and supplies.
The Timbuktu Triangle remains one of the group’s key strongholds, serving as a major base for training, logistics, and coordinating attacks across parts of the Lake Chad Basin.
