Mali crisis worsens as insurgents target roads to capital

Mali’s capital, Bamako, is facing mounting pressure after jihadist fighters blocked major roads leading into the city, worsening insecurity and disrupting supplies.

The blockade was announced by the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims, known as JNIM, an al-Qaeda-linked coalition active across the Sahel region. Rights groups and security analysts say the armed group has cut access along several strategic routes used for transporting food, fuel and commercial goods into the capital.

The development marks a significant escalation in Mali’s prolonged security crisis, which has intensified despite years of military operations by the ruling junta and regional allies.

Recent attacks on supply convoys and transport vehicles have heightened fears among residents and traders. Reports indicate that some trucks travelling towards Bamako were destroyed or forced to turn back because of insecurity along the highways.

The blockade follows coordinated assaults launched in late April against military positions and towns near Bamako, including areas around Kati, an important military base town close to the capital.

Although government forces still control Bamako, observers warn that the disruption of supply routes could worsen living conditions and further strain the country’s fragile economy.

Mali has battled insurgent violence for more than a decade, with jihadist groups linked to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State expanding their operations across parts of the country and neighbouring states in the Sahel.