escalating jihadist blockade tightens around Bamako as buses torched
breaking news
On Saturday, May 16, multiple passenger buses were set ablaze near Bamako by armed assailants. This violent attack follows the intensification of a jihadist-imposed road blockade that has choked off major routes into Mali’s capital since late April.
Armed men launched an assault on a transport convoy Saturday in the classified forest zone of Faya along the Bamako-Ségou corridor. Witnesses report that passengers were forcibly removed from several vehicles before the buses were deliberately set on fire.
injuries reported in violent confrontation
Gunfire erupted when a few drivers hesitated to comply with the attackers’ demands. Local sources confirm multiple casualties and confirm at least seven buses were destroyed by the fires.
jihadist blockade strangling Bamako’s supply lines
Since April 30, armed groups affiliated with the JNIM—directly tied to Al-Qaïda—have enforced a crippling road blockade on key highways leading to Bamako. This escalation in militant pressure comes on the heels of coordinated attacks across the country in late April.
economic strain mounts ahead of Tabaski celebrations
The blockade’s impact is being acutely felt in the capital’s supply chains, particularly livestock deliveries ahead of Tabaski. In recent weeks, several trucks transporting sheep have also been torched, deepening shortages and sparking growing concern among traders.
