Africa Conflict-Diplomacy Daily Brief - 26 March, 2026

Executive Summary

Militant activity across the Sahel and Horn of Africa remains elevated, with JNIM and IS-affiliated groups sustaining a high tempo of asymmetric attacks, including IED strikes, ambushes, and targeted executions across Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, and Nigeria. In parallel, ISCAP’s reported drone activity in eastern DRC signals a potential shift toward more advanced surveillance or strike capabilities, indicating evolving operational sophistication. State forces demonstrated localized tactical gains, particularly in Somalia where joint operations with AUSSOM repelled attacks and degraded Al-Shabaab positions; however, these successes remain geographically contained and do not yet indicate broader strategic reversal. In Niger, the leadership continues to project institutional consolidation and sovereignty over security and resources, but persistent attacks in Tillaberi highlight an ongoing gap between political messaging and ground-level security realities.