Faith Nyasuguta
Mali’s military leader has launched a series of airstrikes in the western region of Kayes after al Qaeda-linked militants threatened to cut off fuel supplies to the capital, Bamako, raising fears of a crippling chokehold on the landlocked nation.
The operations come amid growing insecurity in the Sahel, where Jama’at Nusrat al- Islam wal -Muslimin (JNIM), an al Qaeda affiliate, has been tightening its grip over towns and transport routes. On Thursday, the group warned it would restrict fuel shipments and movement in Kayes and the nearby town of Nioro, near the borders with Senegal and Mauritania. Since then, militants have reportedly intercepted and emptied fuel trucks, residents said.
The Malian army, which seized power in a 2020 coup and consolidated control after a second coup in 2021, has struggled to contain the violence despite severing ties with France and seeking support from Russia’s Wagner Group. In a statement on Monday, the military confirmed it conducted operations in Diema and Nioro, including targeted airstrikes. A colonel stationed in Nioro told state television that troops had freed hostages held by militants during the operations.
The blockade has already disrupted regional commerce. Trucking companies have suspended routes linking Bamako with Senegal’s capital, Dakar, while the road between Bamako and the southern city of Segou has also been blocked. Last week, six Senegalese truck drivers were abducted by militants but were released the following day, a Senegalese union spokesperson, Daouda Lo, confirmed.
Kayes, a hub for gold mining and trade, has increasingly become a target for insurgent attacks. Since May, militants have struck cement and sugar factories, as well as mines operated by foreign companies, including Barrick Gold and B2Gold. The attacks and roadblocks have not only threatened Mali’s economy but also highlighted the growing challenge the junta faces in securing critical infrastructure.
A Malian security analyst in Bamako said JNIM’s rapid enforcement of the blockade demonstrates the group’s growing strength and ability to directly challenge state authority. “This is more than a local disruption; it shows the insurgents’ capacity to dictate terms to the government and impact regional trade,” the analyst noted.
The latest airstrikes mark the junta’s most forceful response yet to militants aiming to encircle towns and cities across the country. With vital fuel shipments at risk and trade routes under constant threat, Mali’s security forces face mounting pressure to stabilize the nation while countering an increasingly bold insurgency.
RELATED:
