Mali Jihadists Burn Dozens of Vehicles West of Bamako, Intensifying Fuel Blockade
Dozens of vehicles, among them fuel tankers, minibuses, and lorries, have been set alight near Mali’s capital, Bamako. This incident follows a tightening of the fuel blockade on the city by jihadist groups.
JNIM Intensifies Blockade
Videos from the scene, approximately 45km (28 miles) west of Bamako, depict the charred remains of numerous vehicles. Reports indicate that those on board were instructed to disembark before the vehicles were torched, with no casualties reported.
Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), an al-Qaeda-aligned jihadist organisation, initiated a fuel blockade on Bamako last year. This measure was intensified after the group conducted an attack on the capital last month. Mali, a landlocked nation, relies heavily on fuel imports from coastal neighbours such as Senegal and Ivory Coast.
Since last year, militants have kidnapped drivers and destroyed over 100 fuel lorries on major highways. While some convoys have reached Bamako under military escort, the latest incident signals a more aggressive posture from JNIM.
Junta's Struggles Continue
Satellite imagery and heat signature data confirm the incident’s location and timing. Analysts suggest the fuel blockade is designed to cripple Mali’s economy and erode the legitimacy of the military leadership.
General Assimi Goïta, who seized power in a 2020 coup, had pledged to restore security and combat armed groups. Despite the appointment of Brigadier General Famouké Camara in January to counter the blockade, attacks on fuel convoys persist. The fuel crisis, which had appeared to ease recently, is now facing renewed pressure.
The junta initially enjoyed popular support, promising to address the security crisis that began with a northern separatist rebellion, subsequently exploited by Islamist militants like JNIM. However, even with the backing of Russian mercenaries, the junta has struggled to contain the deadly insurgency, rendering significant portions of the north and east ungovernable. Last month, coordinated attacks by ethnic Tuareg separatists and JNIM across the country reportedly resulted in the death of Defence Minister Sadio Camara.
