Travelers in Mali face mounting challenges following recent road blockades enforced around Bamako by armed factions. The disruption, attributed to the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM), has intensified after a series of attacks on April 25 that targeted multiple locations across the country.
In the past week alone, dozens of transport and freight vehicles heading toward the capital have been set ablaze by militants. While some transport companies continue operating—albeit cautiously—others have temporarily suspended services, leaving passengers stranded and supply chains severely disrupted.
Extended delays and canceled routes
A leading transport company based in Bamako, which serves several neighboring countries, provided insight into the ongoing situation. On the morning of May 11, a bus arrived from Nouakchott, Mauritania, after a four-day journey. Mody, a Malian migrant traveling under a pseudonym for safety, shared his experience:
« We left Nouakchott last Thursday at 7 a.m. and arrived at Gogui on the border by 11 p.m. The drivers informed us the route was too dangerous to proceed. We spent Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights waiting there. On Sunday, we were told a Malian military convoy would escort us. After a long wait, we set off without military protection and reached Diéma. It was there we learned that earlier buses ahead of us had all turned back due to orders from JNIM jihadists. »
A company representative confirmed that approximately ten buses remain stranded in neighboring countries, with two vehicles set on fire over the weekend on national roads.
Passengers stranded for days
Nearby, another transport firm linking Bamako to cities like Ségou in central Mali is overwhelmed with passengers waiting for tickets. Seyba, a 60-year-old traveler from the Ségou region, explained his predicament:
« I’m trying to return to Ségou, but no buses are available at the moment. I came to pay my respects after a relative’s passing. Everywhere I look—four different companies—there’s the same story: the roads are too dangerous. If I can’t find a vehicle, I’ll have to stay with relatives in Bamako until conditions improve. »
The company owner, speaking off the record, revealed that five buses were destroyed by militants last Saturday. These vehicles were burned as part of the blockade strategy aimed at isolating Bamako. In response, the company has halted departures and arrivals to and from the capital until further notice.
For now, travelers in Mali must navigate a landscape of uncertainty, where road safety is no longer guaranteed and journeys are dictated by militant threats rather than schedules.
