Mali’s communities grapple with jnim blockades: famine, fear, and forced negotiation

Analysis · The strategy of blockades has become a primary instrument in Jnim’s warfare. By severing critical transport routes, denying access to vital agricultural lands, crippling local markets, and imposing stringent social and religious doctrines, the armed group’s objective extends beyond mere territorial conquest; it aims to systematically stifle communities. Across locations such as Marébougou, Saye, and Kori-Maoundé, residents are striving to endure, navigating a complex existence marked by resistance, pragmatic adaptation, and coerced agreements.