Overview

Ousmane Illiassou Djibo, is a U.S.-designated senior leader of ISIS in the Greater Sahara (ISIS-GS). A close affiliate of ISIS-GS leader Adnan Abu Walid al-Sahrawi, Djibo has directed a network of militants targeting westerners and has taken part in numerous attacks on local forces in Niger and the surrounding areas.“State Department Terrorist Designation of Ousmane Illiassou Djibo,” U.S. Department of State, June 28, 2021, https://www.state.gov/state-department-terrorist-designation-of-ousmane-illiassou-djibo/. The U.S. Department of State designated Djibo as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) on June 28, 2021.“State Department Terrorist Designation of Ousmane Illiassou Djibo,” U.S. Department of State, June 28, 2021, https://www.state.gov/state-department-terrorist-designation-of-ousmane-illiassou-djibo/.

Djibo, a native Nigerien, serves as a collaborator and key lieutenant of al-Sahrawi, who operates the group out of the Menaka region in Mali. ISIS-GS, which was designated by the U.S. State Department as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) in May 2018, was established after al-Sahrawi split from al-Mourabitoun—an al-Qaeda splinter group—and pledged allegiance to ISIS in May 2015. ISIS central acknowledged the pledge in October 2016.“State Department Terrorist Designation of Ousmane Illiassou Djibo,” U.S. Department of State, June 28, 2021, https://www.state.gov/state-department-terrorist-designation-of-ousmane-illiassou-djibo/.

One of the first documented attacks led by Djibo occurred in November 2016, when ISIS-GS militants ambushed Nigerian National Guard soldiers. The attacks killed six soldiers and the militants kidnapped two other soldiers. One hostage was killed, and the other, Abdoul Wahid, managed to escape. During his three-month ordeal, Wahid stated that the group spoke of just seeking to wage jihad, and in particular, killing foreign soldiers. Additionally, Wahid witnessed ISIS-GS—which he estimated had around 1,200 members—recruiting and training children as young as 10. According to Wahid, Djibo did not come across as a believer of Islam, but as a thug.Ruth Maclean, “Niger Islamic State hostage: 'They want to kill foreign soldiers',” Guardian, June 5, 2018, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jun/05/hostage-niger-islamic-state-group-they-want-to-kill-foreign-soldiers#_=_.

The State Department reports that Djibo developed a network of ISIS-GS militants to kidnap and attack westerners in Niger and surrounding areas.“State Department Terrorist Designation of Ousmane Illiassou Djibo,” U.S. Department of State, June 28, 2021, https://www.state.gov/state-department-terrorist-designation-of-ousmane-illiassou-djibo/. Furthermore, Djibo has coordinated and taken part in numerous attacks against local forces. Djibo allegedly gave the order for ISIS-GS fighters to take six Nigerien soldiers hostage following an ambush on Nigerien soldiers near Tongo Tongo, Niger on May 14, 2019. The ambush killed 28 soldiers.“State Department Terrorist Designation of Ousmane Illiassou Djibo,” U.S. Department of State, June 28, 2021, https://www.state.gov/state-department-terrorist-designation-of-ousmane-illiassou-djibo/; “Niger ambush: Militants kill 28 soldiers near Mali,” BBC News, May 16, 2019, https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-48286975. Djibo also reportedly led ISIS-GS fighters against the Nigerien Armed Forces (FAN) on July 1, 2019 in Inates, Tillaberi Region, Niger. The attack killed 18 soldiers.“State Department Terrorist Designation of Ousmane Illiassou Djibo,” U.S. Department of State, June 28, 2021, https://www.state.gov/state-department-terrorist-designation-of-ousmane-illiassou-djibo/; “Global Overview: July 2019,” International Crisis Group, July 2019, https://www.crisisgroup.org/crisiswatch/july-2019.

The U.S. Department of State designated Djibo as an SDGT on June 28, 2021, for his role in ISIS-GS which critically threatens the peace, security, and stability of not only Mali, but Niger and Burkina Faso.“State Department Terrorist Designation of Ousmane Illiassou Djibo,” U.S. Department of State, June 28, 2021, https://www.state.gov/state-department-terrorist-designation-of-ousmane-illiassou-djibo/.