Travelers in Mali are facing severe disruptions after the Jnim, the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims, imposed a blockade on major roads leading to Bamako following attacks on April 25. The militant group has set fire to dozens of transport and cargo vehicles heading toward the capital in recent days, leaving passengers stranded and supply chains paralyzed.
Transport companies operating between Bamako and neighboring countries are struggling to maintain services. While some continue to run routes, others have suspended operations entirely due to the escalating security risks. The impact is widespread, affecting both local commuters and regional travelers.
Extended trips, canceled journeys
A four-day journey from Nouakchott to Bamako highlights the growing travel crisis. Mody, a Malian migrant traveling under a pseudonym for safety, shares his ordeal:
“We left Nouakchott last Thursday at 7 AM, arriving in Gogui at the border by 11 PM,” he recounts. “The drivers warned us the route was dangerous. We spent Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights there. Sunday morning, we heard a Malian military convoy would escort us. After hours of waiting, we finally left without the convoy and reached Diéma in Mali. That’s where we learned that earlier buses had turned back under orders from Jnim fighters.”
A transport company representative confirms that over ten of their buses are currently stranded in neighboring countries, with two set ablaze on national roads over the weekend. The blockade has forced many operators to halt services to and from Bamako indefinitely.
Waiting for a way out
In another sector, passengers bound for central Malian cities like Ségou have been waiting for nearly a week for available tickets. Seyba, a 60-year-old traveler from Ségou, explains his predicament:
“I came to Bamako to offer condolences after a family loss, but buses aren’t running. I checked four companies, and the situation is the same everywhere. If I can’t find a vehicle back to Ségou soon, I’ll have to stay with relatives in Bamako longer.”
The company manager, speaking off the record, reveals that five of their buses were destroyed by Jnim militants last Saturday. These attacks underscore the militant group’s determination to enforce the blockade, leaving Mali’s transportation network in disarray.
No clear end in sight
With no immediate resolution to the blockade, travelers and transport operators alike face mounting uncertainty. The disruption not only affects personal travel plans but also threatens the flow of goods and services across Mali, deepening the humanitarian and economic strain on the country.
