In early 2026, Burkina Faso stands at one of the most consequential moments in its post-independence history. The country is simultaneously prosecuting an intense counterinsurgency campaign, redefining its geopolitical alliances, restructuring its political system, and attempting to sustain economic momentum amid a deepening humanitarian emergency. What emerges is a portrait of a state attempting to

Over the past decade, Jama’at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM) has emerged as one of the most influential armed movements in the Sahel. Its rise reflects not only the spread of jihadist ideology in West Africa but also the deep structural crises affecting the region—weak governance, rural marginalization, ethnic tensions, and porous borders. Understanding JNIM