Jihadist fighters have burnt dozens of vehicles on key roads leading to Mali's capital, Bamako. The fighters are tightening a blockade they imposed on the city. This action is happening just before the important Islamic holiday of Eid al-Adha.
The burnt vehicles include fuel tankers, minibuses, and trucks. They were set ablaze near Bamako, about 45 kilometers west of the city. Videos show the vehicles engulfed in flames. No casualties have been reported. People on board were reportedly told to leave before the vehicles were destroyed. Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), an al-Qaeda-linked group, announced the fuel blockade last year. They have made it even stricter after attacking the city last month.
Mali is a country with no access to the sea. It needs to import fuel from nearby countries like Senegal and Ivory Coast. The militants have been kidnapping drivers and burning over 100 fuel trucks since last year. Some fuel managed to reach Bamako with military protection. This blockade is expected to hurt Mali's economy. It also aims to weaken the current military leadership. The government is led by General Assimi Goïta. He took power in a 2020 coup. He promised to fight armed groups.
General Goïta has hired a Russian paramilitary group, Africa Corp. This group evolved from the Wagner Group. They are helping fight the Islamist rebels. In January, he appointed Brigadier General Famouké Camara to lead a special operation against the fuel blockade. However, attacks on fuel convoys have continued. Before this latest escalation, the fuel situation seemed to be improving. Africa Corp was helping deliver supplies to Bamako. Videos shared by Africa Corp show Russian attack helicopters escorting convoys. These convoys included fuel tanks and heavy trucks.
Analysts suggest the Russian group is using these videos for publicity. They want to counter criticism about failing to stop the rebels. The Kremlin has promised that Russian forces will stay in Mali. They say their goal is to fight "extremism, terrorism, and other negative manifestations." The fuel blockade caused shortages in the capital last year. Prices for many goods increased sharply. Last month, militants ordered a complete blockade. This made residents very worried. Eyewitnesses told the BBC that many roads into the city were closed. Some vehicles could only pass when the fighters had moved away.
This partial blockade has already made basic items very expensive. One man reported that a kilogram of potatoes cost 350 CFA francs before. Now, it costs 500 CFA francs. This is a significant price jump. He added that everything in the market has become costly. Ahead of Eid al-Adha, markets in the Muslim-majority country usually sell many sheep. This year, there are fewer sheep available. Muslims traditionally slaughter an animal for Eid. It commemorates the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice his son. Many Malian families try to buy an animal for slaughter. However, the blockade makes it hard to transport animals to the city. A sheep seller told BBC Afrique that many people and animals are stuck on the road. They are scared that the Islamists might take the animals. As a result, sheep prices have soared. One man said he could not afford a sheep this year. He and his friends are planning to buy a bull together instead.
The blockade also makes travel difficult for people wanting to visit their villages during the holiday. A resident named Moussa said travelling is dangerous. He decided to stay in Bamako for the celebration. The military junta gained public support when it took power five years ago. They promised to address the country's security crisis. This crisis started with a rebellion in the north. Islamist militants later joined the conflict. The junta has struggled to control the insurgency. This is despite support from Russian mercenaries. Large parts of the north and east remain ungovernable. Last month, separatists and JNIM attacked towns together. Defence Minister Sadio Camara was killed in these attacks.