Boko Haram's Conquest for the Caliphate: How Al Qaeda Helped Islamic State Acquire Territory

Abstract

This article explains how Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM)–trained Nigerian militants split from Boko Haram and formed a new group called Ansaru in 2011 after consulting with AQIM. Ansaru leaders, however, reintegrated with Boko Haram and transferred their specialized skills in kidnappings, suicide bombings, and media to Boko Haram and contributed to the group's conquest of territory in 2013. Al Qaeda did not benefit from these conquests because Ansaru leaders switched loyalties and helped arrange Boko Haram's pledge to Islamic State in 2015. This article exploits primary source documents from AQIM, Islamic State, and Boko Haram and contributes to the literature on splits and mergers and knowledge transfer between terrorist groups and Al Qaeda–Islamic State competition.