BAMAKO, Mali (AP) — What began as a string of attacks on supply routes is now being felt across daily life in Mali’s capital, after militants burned dozens of vehicles in a fresh assault on a key highway outside Bamako.
The convoy was attacked about 45 kilometers (28 miles) west of Bamako. Witnesses said armed men stopped the vehicles, ordered passengers out, and then set fuel tankers, minibuses and trucks on fire. No immediate deaths were reported, but the scene left a trail of destruction and stranded travelers.
Videos verified by the BBC show rows of burnt-out vehicles stretching along the road, with smoke still rising hours after the attack. Satellite data from NASA’s FIRMS system also picked up heat signals in the area, confirming a large blaze.
The group Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), linked to al-Qaeda, has been enforcing a fuel blockade around Bamako for months. Its fighters have repeatedly targeted convoys, attacked fuel trucks, and disrupted major highways leading into the city.
Even when fuel gets through, it now often requires military escorts. Still, each journey carries risk.
For Mali, the impact goes beyond the immediate violence. The country is landlocked, relying heavily on fuel and goods transported from ports in Senegal and Ivory Coast. When those routes are disrupted, the effects quickly reach markets, transport fares, and household budgets in Bamako.
Residents say daily life has become more expensive and less predictable. Fuel shortages have pushed up transport costs, while food and basic goods are harder to move. One resident, Moussa, said he canceled plans to travel to his home village because the risk was too high. “Travelling would put your life at risk,” he said.
The blockade has also complicated preparations for major religious gatherings like Eid al-Adha, with families struggling to bring livestock into the city.
Mali has been under military rule since a 2020 coup led by Gen. Assimi Goïta. The government promised to restore security, but large parts of the country remain outside state control, and attacks have steadily moved closer to the capital in recent months.
Analysts say the strategy behind the blockade is less about a single battle and more about pressure cutting off fuel, slowing movement, and making everyday life harder in Bamako. Human rights groups warn that targeting civilian transport is a growing concern under international law, but for many residents, the immediate reality is simpler: getting around the city, or out of it, has become increasingly difficult and uncertain.
