Héni Nsaibia on fall of Kidal as a turning point in Mali’s conflict
ACLED’s West Africa Senior Analyst Héni Nsaibia comments on the regime’s setbacks, Russian involvement, and the risks of further instability
Analysis
Africa
Staff
Héni Nsaibia
Senior Analyst, West Africa
Héni is ACLED’s West Africa Senior Analyst. He leads the conflict data collection and analysis for the Sahel. He is also the director of Menastream, a research and risk consultancy that provides intelligence analysis and tailored services.
His research interests and expertise center around insurgencies and their various dimensions, and non-state actors in Sahelian countries. In addition to his research activities, Héni is regularly consulted by the media, government agencies, and various organizations on security issues in the Sahel and North Africa.
Héni has over 15 years of experience in researching the broader MENA-region. He is the co-author of The Islamic State in Africa: The Emergence, Evolution, and Future of the Next Jihadist Battlefront (Hurst Publishers). His work and commentary have been published in the CTC Sentinel, African Affairs, ISPI, Le Monde, Jeune Afrique, The Guardian, TIME, and Al Jazeera, among others.
Spoken languages: English, French and Swedish Timezone: Central European Time - CET
Content by this author
Héni Nsaibia on co-ordinated attacks by armed groups across Mali
As attacks unfold across Mali, ACLED’s West Africa Senior Analyst Héni Nsaibia comments on the threat to the Malian state.
Héni Nsaibia on Sahel insurgency expansion as jihadist rivalry intensifies across borders
ACLED’s West Africa Senior Analyst Héni Nsaibia comments on Sahel insurgency as world shifts attention from West Africa.
Heni Nsaibia on Benin’s elections after deadliest year of conflict
ACLED’s West Africa Senior Analyst Heni Nsaibia comments on Benin’s presidential elections and the need for a stable transition.
Africa Overview: April 2026
The war in Sudan spilled over into Chad, and Maiduguri in Nigeria faced simultaneous attacks from Boko Haram and ISWAP.
Africa Overview: March 2026
The Congolese military targets M23 areas around the lucrative Rubaya mine, JNIM defections spark a crackdown across the central Sahel, and the RSF moves into North Darfur.
Q&A: Why is jihadist violence escalating in the Benin, Niger, and Nigeria border triangle?
The entrenchment of Sahelian and Nigerian jihadist groups in littoral border regions is marked by geopolitical changes, weakened regional cooperation, and limited border security.
Africa Overview: February 2026
This past month, the TDF clashed with the ENDF, Israel’s recognition of Somaliland has triggered mass demonstrations, and the suppression of opposition parties marked Uganda’s elections.
Upcoming events
Webinar | Connected insurgencies: The global evolution of jihadist groups
Join ACLED on 14 May 2 p.m. CET | 1 p.m. London for a webinar that will explore the overlapping patterns of jihadist movements across Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. Register now!
Past events
Webinar | Escalating jihadist violence in the Benin, Niger & Nigeria border triangle
Watch the recorded webinar discussing the escalating jihadist violence in the Benin, Niger, and Nigeria border triangle.
ACLED Webinar | Tackling the Islamic State threat in Africa: State responses and the road ahead
Watch ACLED analysts on Somalia, the Sahel, the Lake Chad Basin, the Great Lakes region, and northern Mozambique, for another in-depth analysis of IS’s pivot to Africa and the evolving nature of African regional security.
Webinar | The Islamic State’s pivot to Africa
The Islamic State is increasingly pivoting its operations toward Africa. Watch the recorded webinar for a deep dive with our experts as they examined IS’s expanding strongholds, providing insights into the actions of the group in five African regions.
Webinar | Emerging frontlines: How Jihadist expansion is reshaping Benin, Niger, and Nigeria
Watch the recorded webinar examining the latest data behind the jihadist movements in Benin, Niger, and Nigeria and their impacts on the exposed population.
