III. Research Notes Islamic State and al-Qaeda Competing for Hearts & Minds

The Islamic State under the leadership of Abu Bakr al–Baghdadi and al-Qaeda under the leadership of Ayman al-Zawahiri are competing for the hearts and minds of jihadists worldwide but also for territorial control in the Middle East, Africa and Central Asia. Three examples, referring to France, Yemen and Nigeria respectively, illustrate this struggle among the main jihadist entities.