Mali’s junta declares 40 forests military zones in anti-jihadist push

The Malian junta has escalated its territorial reconquest strategy. Through a ministerial decree made public on Friday, June 5, 2026, authorities in Bamako have established military interest zones encompassing approximately forty forests spread across the nation. These areas are now strictly off-limits to civilians, reserved exclusively for operations by the Malian Armed Forces (FAMa). The measure explicitly targets suspected sanctuaries of jihadist groups affiliated with Islamic State in the Sahel and Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM).

A security mapping reshaping territorial use

The decree outlines a precise list of affected forest massifs, distributed across various regions of the country. Wooded areas in central and southern Mali, long exploited as hideouts by armed combatants, feature prominently in this new scheme. By sealing off access to these spaces, the junta aims to sever the logistical lifelines of militant groups and facilitate aerial targeting without endangering local populations.

The decision to regulate forest access is highly significant. For over a decade, these massifs have functioned as grey zones where subsistence economies, illicit trade, and insurgent activities intertwine. Villagers traditionally extract firewood, medicinal plants, and game, while herders move their livestock through these lands. This new legal framework profoundly disrupts that delicate balance, effectively placing these vital resources under military control.

Consequently, any civilian incursion into these areas will be subject to penalties, and sweeping operations can now unfold without prior warning. This text aligns with the firm doctrine espoused by the colonels in power since the twin coups of 2020 and 2021, which saw a pivot away from French military presence towards security partnerships with Russia.

A military gamble with significant humanitarian implications

The tactical effectiveness of this measure will hinge on the FAMa and their auxiliaries’ ability to maintain a sustained presence in these forest territories. Heli-borne operations and targeted strikes, which have become central to Mali’s security efforts since the departure of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) in 2023, now benefit from an expanded legal framework within these prohibited zones. For Bamako, this also serves as a public declaration of renewed initiative against insecurity that has spread southward, reaching the outskirts of Bamako and Kayes.

However, the social ramifications could prove substantial. Tens of thousands of residents live in close proximity to the targeted massifs, deriving a significant portion of their livelihoods from forest exploitation. This prohibition risks further destabilizing rural communities already grappling with drought, food inflation, and the closure of cross-border markets. The precedent set in neighboring Burkina Faso, where similar military interest zones were established as early as 2023, indicates a correlation between the expansion of militarized perimeters and massive internal displacement.

A Sahelian convergence on militarizing spaces

Mali’s approach is part of a broader regional trend. Burkina Faso and Niger, partners within the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), have progressively implemented exceptional territorial measures since 2024 to regain control over armed groups. This doctrinal convergence reflects a shared vision of security sovereignty, emphasizing physical control over peripheral areas and the temporary suspension of certain customary usage rights.

International partners are observing this shift with caution. Human rights organizations have repeatedly documented abuses committed in zones placed under heightened military regimes. The junta’s capacity to balance operational effectiveness with respect for civilian populations will be closely scrutinized, particularly by West African neighbors and donor nations still active in the country.

Economically, the establishment of these perimeters could also impact artisanal mining concessions and certain gold exploitation sites located at the edges of the targeted forests. The government has not yet specified the modalities for compensating or reallocating affected populations. The ministerial decree, published on June 5, 2026, impacts nearly forty forest massifs nationwide.