Jihadists Burn Vehicles and Tighten Blockade Around Mali’s Capital Ahead of Eid

Dozens of vehicles, including fuel tankers, minibuses, and trucks, have been set ablaze on major roads leading to Mali’s capital, Bamako, as armed jihadists intensify a blockade that is worsening shortages ahead of the Eid al-Adha holiday.

The attacks were carried out along key routes about 45km west of Bamako, where witnesses and verified video footage show burnt-out vehicles lining the roadside. According to reports, passengers were ordered to leave before the vehicles were torched. No casualties have been confirmed.

The militant group Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), linked to al-Qaeda, has been enforcing a fuel blockade around Bamako since last year, tightening restrictions following a recent surge in attacks near the capital.

Mali, a landlocked country heavily dependent on fuel imports through neighboring coastal states such as Senegal and Ivory Coast, has been severely affected. The blockade has disrupted supply chains, leading to fuel shortages and rising prices for basic goods.

JNIM fighters have previously targeted fuel convoys, kidnapping drivers and destroying more than 100 fuel trucks on highways across the country. While some convoys have reached Bamako under military escort, attacks have continued.

The worsening situation comes as Mali prepares for Eid al-Adha, a major Islamic festival during which families traditionally purchase livestock for sacrifice. However, insecurity and transport disruptions have driven up prices and reduced supplies in the capital.

Residents report that travel has become increasingly dangerous, with many choosing to remain in Bamako rather than risk journeys to rural areas.

The military government, led by Gen Assimi Goïta, has struggled to contain the insurgency despite support from Russian-linked forces operating in the country. Efforts to secure supply routes have included escorted convoys and special operations units, but the blockade remains largely in place.

Analysts say the blockade is aimed at weakening the government’s authority by strangling the capital’s economy, while also increasing pressure on military leadership amid ongoing instability in central and northern Mali.

Despite past promises to restore security after coups in 2020 and 2021, the authorities continue to face coordinated attacks from jihadist and separatist groups across the country, leaving large areas outside government control.

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