Reeling From Heavy Losses, ISWAP Moves to Overhaul Leadership Structure — sources
By: Zagazola Makama
The Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) is undergoing a comprehensive restructuring of its command and leadership hierarchy following significant battlefield losses in recent months, intelligence sources have revealed.
Sources told Zagazola Makama that the reorganisation was directed by the group’s central leadership linked to the ISIS network in the Iraq/Syria axis, after sustained military pressure degraded ISWAP’s operational capacity and leadership cohesion.
According to the sources, the group has suffered considerable setbacks due to intensified air and ground offensives, leading to the elimination of key fighters and disruption of its command structure across several fronts in the North-East.
Read Also:
The sources said the restructuring is expected to involve major leadership changes, including a possible replacement of the current factional leader, Ba Shuwa, whose continued leadership is reportedly under review due to recent operational failures.
They added that the status of another prominent commander, Abor Mainok, remains unclear amid the ongoing shake-up, raising concerns about internal disarray within the group’s hierarchy.
The sources further disclosed that there was no reference to Habib Yusuf, also known as Abu Musab al-Barnawi, in recent internal communications, reinforcing long-standing indications that he has not been active for a while within the group.
According to the sources, the overhaul is aimed at restoring command effectiveness, re-establishing control over dispersed fighters, and repositioning the group after the losses suffered.
They noted that intelligence gathering is ongoing to ascertain the full extent of the leadership changes and their potential impact on the group’s operational strategy.