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Lake Chad

Medium intensity · Jihadist insurgency · Boko Haram / ISWAP vs regional forces · Reviewed 23 Aug 2026

Conflict map

Approximate theatre focus. Not a control-line map.

Current status

Medium-intensity insurgency continues around the Lake Chad basin. Boko Haram factions and ISWAP attack civilians and security forces across northeastern Nigeria and neighbouring states. Military pressure has not ended the threat.

Key parties

  • ISWAP and Boko Haram factions
  • Nigerian armed forces and Multinational Joint Task Force partners
  • Civilian self-defence groups in some areas

Selected timeline

2009+
Boko Haram insurgency escalates
2015–16
Peak territorial control then pushback
2016+
ISWAP emerges as a major faction
2020–25
Rural attacks and island strongholds persist
2026
Medium intensity; civilian targeting continues
IntensityDesk assessment: Medium — persistent rural/island warfare
GeographyDiffused across four riparian states
Desk noteArmy claims and local NGO tallies often diverge — prefer named sources
Developing

Northeast Nigeria attack reports

Local media often report raids on villages or bases. Desk seeks second confirmation before treating numbers as fact.

Local / OSINT

Confirmed

Insurgency not defeated

Regional governments and UN reporting confirm that Boko Haram/ISWAP violence continues to drive displacement and insecurity in the basin.

Official / UN