Islamist insurgency in Burkina Faso

An armed conflict in Burkina Faso involving Islamist militant groups, government forces, and allied forces. It escalated from 2015 onward and became part of the wider Sahel conflict.

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Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin: A Sahelian jihadist coalition formed in 2017 from several al-Qaeda-aligned groups. Its factions became a major armed presence in Burkina Faso.
Mali War: An armed conflict in Mali that began in 2012 and involved separatist, jihadist, government, and foreign forces. Jihadist groups and instability from Mali spread into neighboring Burkina Faso.
Internally displaced persons in Burkina Faso: People forced to leave their homes by violence or disaster while remaining within Burkina Faso. Insurgent violence and counterinsurgency operations have displaced millions over time.
French military intervention in the Sahel: French-led military operations in the Sahel, including Operation Barkhane from 2014 to 2022. Foreign military support once shaped counterinsurgency, before Burkina Faso’s rulers rejected it.
Islamic State in the Greater Sahara: An Islamic State affiliate active across the Sahel, especially in the tri-border region of Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso. Its operations expanded the insurgency’s reach in eastern Burkina Faso.
2014 Burkina Faso uprising: A popular uprising that forced President Blaise Compaoré from power in October 2014. The political transition reshaped security institutions just before insurgent attacks began.
2022 Burkina Faso coup d'état: The January 2022 military coup that removed President Roch Marc Christian Kaboré. The government’s failure to contain insecurity was a central justification for the coup.
Operation Barkhane: A French counterterrorism operation in the Sahel conducted from 2014 to 2022. Its end marked a shift in Burkina Faso’s external security partnerships.
Ansarul Islam: A jihadist group founded in Burkina Faso in 2016 by Ibrahim Malam Dicko. It was the first major insurgent group rooted in Burkina Faso.
Ibrahim Malam Dicko: A Burkinabè preacher and militant leader who founded Ansarul Islam. His group linked jihadist mobilization to local disputes and grievances.