Mali
Muslim families in Bamako, Mali’s capital, found themselves unable to join loved ones for Eid al-Adha this year, as a jihadist blockade tightened its grip around the city.
Forty-year-old Alpha Amadou, who hails from Mopti in central Mali, was forced to abandon his customary journey home for the significant holiday, widely referred to as Tabaski.
“For the first time in my three decades living in Bamako, I will be celebrating Eid right here this year,” he confided.
Since late April, militants affiliated with Al-Qaida’s Sahel branch have established roadblocks on critical routes into Bamako, setting ablaze numerous buses and cargo trucks.
While the blockade remains partial, the stark images of charred vehicles have deterred many transport operators from running services and discouraged travelers from returning to their home villages.
In Mali, the Eid al-Adha celebration extends far beyond its religious significance. It represents a vital social tradition, serving as one of the few opportunities for families, often separated for months by work, to reunite.
However, the usual pre-holiday bustle at Bamako’s bus terminals has given way to an unsettling quiet. Beyond the pervasive insecurity, fuel shortages have also severely impacted the transportation sector.
“Not only are we struggling with a lack of diesel to keep our vehicles running, but we’ve also lost several buses in recent attacks. This represents a significant economic blow,” stated the anonymous owner of a local travel agency.
“Typically, we would transport over 50,000 individuals from Bamako to various regions in a single week for Eid al-Adha. This year, we haven’t scheduled a single trip,” a representative from another transport company confirmed.
For Wara Bagayoko, the routine was always consistent: load up the family car and drive to Ségou, in central Mali, to celebrate together.
This year, however, he will remain in Bamako, as even private vehicles have become targets.
“This marks the first time in three decades that I won’t celebrate in my village. The road has simply become too perilous,” he explained.
“Previously, about twenty of us would travel by motorbike to Sikasso, in the south, to celebrate,” Oumar Diarra recalled. “This year, we are staying put in Bamako.”
A few minibuses still manage to navigate into the city, either by utilizing secondary roads or by traveling under military escort.
Sheep shortages hit Bamako ahead of Tabaski
Disruptions in transportation are also severely hindering the livestock trade, a crucial component for the traditional Eid al-Adha sacrifice.
Due to the ongoing blockade, herders and traders face immense challenges in bringing their animals to Bamako, the nation’s primary consumer market.
The cost of transporting a single animal, typically ranging from 2,500 to 2,750 CFA francs (around $5), has skyrocketed this year to between 15,000 and 18,000 CFA francs ($26 to $31), according to transporter Alassane Maiga.
Consequently, sheep have become scarce and significantly more expensive in a country where the monthly minimum wage stands at just 40,000 CFA francs.
“Many trucks carrying sheep have been torched by jihadists… Normally, I would have over 1,000 animals, but today, I don’t have a single one,” lamented Hama Ba, a Bamako merchant.
“Sheep we once purchased for 75,000 francs now command prices of 300,000 francs. Previously, there was an abundance of choice, but today, they have all but vanished from Bamako’s markets,” noted Iyi, who was searching for an affordable sheep.
Power cuts exacerbate Bamako’s daily struggles
The escalating security crisis is increasingly permeating daily life, as essential services within the city continue to deteriorate.
Bamako residents are grappling with prolonged electricity outages and a severe scarcity of potable water.
