Habibou Souley Bako | ISS Africa

Military operations that cause civilian deaths and violate human rights are fuelling terrorist groups’ propaganda.

As the polls approach, deep divisions focus more on candidates’ personal backgrounds than Niger’s security and development challenges.

Elections in Burkina Faso and Niger take place amidst insecurity and COVID-19, as happened in Mali earlier this year.

The terror group’s differences over leadership style, war strategy and ideology seem to have increased its resilience.