Mali's capital, Bamako, a bustling West African hub of over three million people, is facing a partial blockade by Islamist militants just days after the defense minister was assassinated. The group Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) has warned that "no-one will be allowed in any more," leaving many residents stranded and fearful.
"Our army isn't capable of protecting us, how are we going to get back home?" a mother-of-two told the BBC, unable to re-enter Bamako after visiting relatives. She and countless others have been stuck on the Bamako-Kéniéba highway for nearly a day. Eyewitnesses report that at least three of six main routes into the city are frequently closed, with only intermittent openings allowing a few vehicles to pass.
Last year, JNIM imposed a fuel blockade causing shortages and price spikes, but now they have ordered a total blockade, heightening anxieties. The situation follows coordinated nationwide attacks last weekend by an alliance of jihadists and separatist rebels from the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA), aiming to overthrow the military regime of General Assimi Goïta, who took power in a 2020 coup.
Mali's army, supported by the Russian paramilitary Africa Corps (formerly Wagner Group), has struggled to contain the insurgency. In response to recent assaults, Russian forces withdrew from the northern city of Kidal, now under FLA control. The FLA has vowed to march on other northern cities and demands the expulsion of all foreign fighters. A Kremlin spokesperson reaffirmed Russia's commitment to stay and combat extremism.
One lorry driver trying to reach Bamako described the scene: "I've never seen something like this before. I'm stuck here and it sounds dangerous. I would rather run away to save my life." A total blockade has also been imposed on Ségou, a town less than 80 miles from the capital, leaving hundreds of vehicles stranded for days, with passengers struggling to access food and water.
Junta leader Goïta, after an emergency security council meeting, vowed tough action and claimed the armed forces inflicted "heavy losses" on rebels. However, Alain Antil, director of the Sub-Saharan Africa Centre at French think-tank Ifri, told the BBC that "those moves show that the regime is weak and can't restore security."
In 2013, French and African forces intervened to protect Bamako from a similar jihadist-Tuareg advance. After seizing power, Goïta expelled the French and turned to Russia, but instability persists. Several countries, including France, Canada, the UK, and the US, have urged their citizens to leave Mali or stay home. Yet, one Frenchwoman said: "I won't leave. I love Mali. We'll stay with my family. We know things will be OK."
Additional reporting by Natasha Booty