Comparing Jihadist Governance in the Sahelian Branches of the Islamic State

Scholars have long debated whether local politico-social dynamics or global affiliations to terrorist groups (al-Qaeda and the Islamic State) drive the actions of African ‘jihadist’ groups. This article explores this question through a comparative analysis of the understudied governance behaviour of two Islamic State (IS) groups operating in West Africa: the IS-Sahel Province (ISSP) and the IS-West Africa Province (ISWAP). Despite a common affiliation, these groups operate in distinct geographies thousands of kilometres apart with different histories and socio-cultural dynamics. Building on the jihadi governance literature, distinct governance approaches are to be expected, while convergence would be indicative of efforts to abide by a common ideology. We examine the degrees of commonality and divergence along four axes: internal governance, social rules and enforcement, politico-economic governance, and the provision of some basic services. Overall, despite some differences in local factors, we find significant commonalities between these groups’ governance, reinforcing a glocal interpretation of the drivers of jihadism in Africa.