Transport routier suspendu malian amid jihadist blockade

Over a dozen road transport companies have halted operations to and from Bamako, as jihadist groups impose a crippling road blockade on the capital, torching vehicles in the process.

escalating violence and its impact on Mali’s transport sector

The Mali government faces heightened instability following large-scale, coordinated attacks on April 25 and 26. These strikes, attributed to the Islamist coalition Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM), affiliated with Al-Qaeda, and the predominantly Tuareg National Liberation Front of Azawad (FNLA), targeted strategic locations held by the ruling junta.

road blockade cuts off Bamako’s critical supply routes

Since April 30, jihadist forces have enforced a strict road blockade around Bamako, choking off multiple key routes into the city. As a landlocked nation, Mali relies heavily on overland imports, making the closure catastrophic for its economy. A transport agency spokesperson told AFP, “We suspended operations to protect passengers and reduce losses,” after six buses were destroyed in clashes on the Ségou route last Saturday.

While more than ten transport firms have publicly announced suspension of services, others have quietly ceased operations out of fear of reprisals from authorities, who may compel them to resume. Although major carriers have grounded their fleets on all six principal highways leading to Bamako, smaller minibuses continue entering the capital via backroads.

fuel shortages and infrastructure strain in Bamako

The blockade has triggered severe shortages across Bamako. Long queues formed at gas stations on Monday as diesel supplies dwindled. Authorities claim over 700 fuel tankers entered via the Bamako–Côte d’Ivoire corridor over the weekend. Meanwhile, jihadists have burned multiple goods convoys and passenger buses in recent days.

Electricity supply has also plummeted, with residents reporting up to 72 hours without power. The state-run Énergie du Mali (EDM) cited “technical issues” but an anonymous source within the company attributed the outages to deliberate sabotage by terrorists disrupting the grid.

Water services are also faltering due to scheduled load shedding, according to the Malian Water Management Company.

a city under siege: daily life disrupted

• Road transport companies suspend operations due to safety concerns and financial losses
• Fuel scarcity leads to long queues at petrol stations
• Power outages last up to three days, with intermittent restoration
• Water supply disruptions reported in several districts