"By focusing primarily on a military strategy, the government risks again inflaming local conflicts that Islamic State could exploit.
The executive summary of the ICG report follows:
In December 2019 and January 2020, Nigerien security forces suffered their deadliest attacks ever, losing scores of troops in ferocious assaults mounted by the Sahel's Islamic State franchise operating in Mali and Niger's Tillabery border region.
By focusing primarily on a military strategy, the government risks again enflaming local conflicts that the Islamic State could exploit.
A similar situation occurred in 2017-2018, when Niger partnered with Malian ethnic militias that were considered rivals to certain ethnic communities, particularly the Peul, many of whom allied with the Islamic State as a result.
Niger can start by identifying and working to resolve conflicts among and within border communities, where the Islamic State finds many of its recruits.
