Bakura Doro

Bakura Doro was born and grew up in Doron Baga in northern Borno State, Nigeria.{{sfn|Crisis Group|2024|p=5}} He is reportedly an ethnic Kanuri.{{sfn|Zenn|2020a|p=4}} He initially worked in the informal economy, and joined the religious movement of Mohammed Yusuf. This movement eventually became Boko Haram, and Bakura stayed loyal to the group during and after the 2009 uprising.{{sfn|Crisis Group|2024|p=5}} After Yusuf's death and the rise of his successor Abubakar Shekau,{{sfn|Crisis Group|2024|p=4}} Bakura fought for Boko Haram in the escalating rural insurgency. Even though he lacked a background in religious Islamic studies, he started to climb in Boko Haram's ranks due to his skill as a battlefield officer. Earning a "reputation for shrewdness and independence", Bakura was eventually appointed munzir (mid-level commander).{{sfn|Crisis Group|2024|p=5}} In 2015, Shekau pledged allegiance to the Islamic State (IS), rebranding Boko Haram to become the "Islamic State's West Africa Province" (ISWAP). However, disagreements gradually developed between Shekau and the IS central command in Syria.{{sfn|Crisis Group|2024|p=4}} In 2016, the group splintered into IS loyalists and Shekau loyalists, with Bakura joining the latter camp.{{sfn|Crisis Group|2024|p=5}} The pro-IS faction continued to use the name "ISWAP", whereas Shekau's faction was generally still described as "Boko Haram".{{sfn|Zenn|2020a|p=4}}

After the rebel group's division, Bakura led his troops to the northern shores of Lake Chad, an area which became the center of his operations. Shekau rewarded Bakura's loyalty by appointing him amir ul-fiya (zone commander) of Lake Chad.{{sfn|Crisis Group|2024|pp=4–5}} The Boko Haram forces at Lake Chad subsequently became internationally known as the "Bakura faction";{{sfn|Zenn|2020b|p=7}} most of his troops were reportedly Buduma people.{{sfn|Zenn|2020a|p=4}} His unit took part in the Chad Basin campaign (2018–2020), and was possibly responsible for attacks on Bama, Banki, Ngom, Tungunshe, and Maiduguri.{{sfn|Zenn|2020b|p=7}} Several of these operations targeted civilians, often resulting in massacres.{{sfn|Zenn|2020a|pp=4–5}} Researcher Jacob Zenn summarized that the Bakura faction "enslav[ed] Muslim women, conduct[ed] female suicide bombings, raid[ed] barracks, [and] kill[ed] innocent fishermen" during this period.{{sfn|Zenn|2020a|p=5}} In March 2020, the Nigerian and Nigerien militaries falsely claimed to have killed Bakura in battle.{{sfn|Zenn|2020b|p=7}}

In May 2021, Shekau was killed during a battle against ISWAP. Afterward, Boko Haram appeared nearly defeated as the group splintered, while many of its forces defected or deserted.{{sfn|Zenn|2022}}{{sfn|Crisis Group|2024|pp=4–5}} The remaining loyalists rallied under Shekau's designated successor, a cleric named Sahalaba.{{sfn|Crisis Group|2024|pp=4–5}} Bakura also remained committed to Boko Haram, launching several raids against IS targets in the immediate aftermath of Shekau's demise.{{sfn|Crisis Group|2024|pp=4–5}}{{sfn|ITIC|2023|p=5}} Over time, Bakura's power grew, and he managed to stabilize the remnants of Boko Haram. Meanwhile, there were a series of unsuccessful negotiations between IS and Boko Haram, with Sahalaba favoring reconciliation. Disagreeing with this approach as well as seeking more power, Bakura murdered Sahalaba in March 2022 and took over the imamate (command) of Boko Haram.{{sfn|Crisis Group|2024|pp=4–5}} After a short struggle with Sahalaba's remaining loyalists, he cemented his control over the group.{{sfn|Zenn|2024}} On 2 May 2022, Boko Haram published a video declaring Bakura its new leader under the name "Abu Umaimata". Under his command, Boko Haram continued to fight both the regional government as well as its jihadist rival, ISWAP.{{sfn|Zenn|2022}}{{sfn|Crisis Group|2024|p=5}}

Over the course of the next months, Bakura managed to reinforce Boko Haram's position as well as took more ISWAP territory.{{sfn|Zenn|2024}} Among his notable successes were the Battles of Toumbun Allura Kurnawa and Toumbun Gini from December 2022 to January 2023.{{sfn|ITIC|2023|p=6}}{{Cite web |last=Abubakar |first=Uthman |date=2023-01-08 |title=Boko Haram kills 35 ISWAP combatants in Lake Chad |url=https://punchng.com/boko-haram-kills-35-iswap-combatants-in-lake-chad/ |access-date=2023-11-24 |website=Punch Newspapers |language=en-US}} Furthermore, his group largely removed itself from the "global jihadist movement", with Bakura focusing on local warfare instead of propaganda or international networks.{{sfn|Zenn|2024}}

Unlike his former superior and predecessor Shekau, Bakura Doro has been described as a more grounded leader. He generally avoids media attention and making propaganda appearances, instead personally leading his troops at the frontlines.{{sfn|Zenn|2024}}

{{Reflist}}

{{refbegin}}

• {{Cite journal |url = https://www.terrorism-info.org.il/app/uploads/2023/01/E_011_23.pdf |title = Boko Haram: The Relations between the two factions of the organization |date = 12 January 2023 |publisher = Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center |journal = The Global Jihad |ref = {{harvid|ITIC|2023}} }}
• {{Cite journal |url = https://www.crisisgroup.org/sites/default/files/2024-03/b196-jas-vs-iswap_0.pdf |title = JAS vs. ISWAP: The War of the Boko Haram Splinters |date = 28 March 2024 |journal = Africa Briefing |issue=196 |publisher = Crisis Group |location = Brussels, Dakar |ref = {{harvid|Crisis Group|2024}} }}
• {{Cite journal |url = https://jamestown.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/TM-Jan.-28-2020-Issue.pdf |title = Is the 'Bakura Faction' Boko Haram's New Force Enhancer Around Lake Chad? |last = Zenn |first = Jacob |date = 28 January 2020 |journal = Terrorism Monitor |issue = 2 |volume = 18 |publisher = Jamestown Foundation |pages = 4–5 |ref = {{harvid|Zenn|2020a}} }}
• {{Cite journal |url = https://jamestown.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/TM-Mar.-20-2020-Issue.pdf?x78547 |title = Islamic State in West Africa Province and the Battle With Boko Haram |last = Zenn |first = Jacob |date = 20 March 2020 |journal = Terrorism Monitor |issue = 6 |volume = 18 |publisher = Jamestown Foundation |pages = 6–8 |ref = {{harvid|Zenn|2020b}}}}
• {{Cite journal |url = https://jamestown.org/brief/boko-haram-pledges-loyalty-to-mysterious-new-leader-abu-umaimata/ |title = Boko Haram Pledges Loyalty to Mysterious New Leader: Abu Umaimata |last = Zenn |first = Jacob |date = 6 June 2022 |journal = Militant Leadership Monitor |issue = 5 |volume = 13 |publisher = Jamestown Foundation }}
• {{Cite journal |url = https://jamestown.org/program/brief-three-years-after-death-of-shekau-boko-haram-appears-to-gain-on-iswap-under-leadership-of-bakura/ |title = Brief: Three Years After Death of Shekau, Boko Haram Appears to Gain on ISWAP Under Leadership of Bakura |last = Zenn |first = Jacob |date = 30 May 2024 |journal = Terrorism Monitor |issue = 8 |volume = 22 |publisher = Jamestown Foundation }}

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Category:Boko Haram members

Category:Year of birth missing (living people)

Category:Living people

Category:Nigerian Muslims

Category:Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant members

Category:Leaders of jihadist groups

Category:People from Borno State

Category:Kanuri people