The JNIM, an al-Qaeda-affiliated jihadist group operating in Mali, has significantly escalated its blockade around Bamako, crippling the capital’s economic lifelines. Over the weekend, militants set fire to at least a dozen buses along the critical Ségou-Bamako corridor, a vital route for transporting goods and fuel into the city from eastern regions. In a parallel move, jihadists sabotaged and destroyed electrical infrastructure linked to the Manantali hydroelectric dam in the Kayes region, sending shockwaves through Mali’s already strained power grid.
Manantali dam: a strategic target in a war of attrition
The assault on Manantali is far from incidental. The dam, managed collaboratively by Mali, Mauritania, and Senegal under the Organisation for the Development of the Senegal River (OMVS), serves as the backbone of Mali’s electricity supply. By targeting its transmission lines, the JNIM is no longer merely striking military targets—it is undermining the very foundation of urban life. Power outages paralyze public services, shutter businesses, and halt industrial activity, directly impacting livelihoods across the capital.
This campaign follows weeks of systematic attacks on fuel convoys entering Mali from Senegal and Côte d’Ivoire. The jihadists aim to weaponize fuel shortages, betting on public frustration with the transitional government led by General Assimi Goïta. Bamako, once relatively insulated from conflict, now finds itself at the epicenter of a relentless battle of endurance.
Army’s countermeasures and fragile relief
The Malian Armed Forces (FAMa) have responded with intensified ground and air operations across multiple fronts. In recent days, military escorts have successfully escorted hundreds of fuel tankers into Bamako, temporarily easing pressure on gas stations under siege. However, this relief is fleeting. Each convoy demands significant resources, and the prospect of securing Mali’s national highways in the long term remains distant.
The FAMa faces a daunting dilemma. In western and central Mali, the JNIM continues to ambush civilians and sabotage critical infrastructure. Meanwhile, in the northern Kidal region, tensions simmer as clashes with rebel factions from the Permanent Strategic Framework threaten to erupt into open conflict. The transitional government in Bamako is stretched thin, grappling with simultaneous crises on multiple fronts.
Regional ripple effects of Mali’s blockade
The economic fallout from Mali’s blockade extends far beyond its borders. Neighbouring countries—Senegal, Mauritania, and Côte d’Ivoire—are feeling the strain as trade corridors in West Africa falter. The slowdown in goods movement has already impacted ports in Dakar and Abidjan, where a substantial share of transit relies on overland routes through the Sahel. The Sahel States Confederation, comprising Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, has struggled to formulate a unified response to the jihadist-led economic warfare.
The attack on Manantali also raises urgent questions about shared infrastructure under the OMVS. Any further damage to the dam’s operations could disrupt electricity supplies to Senegal and Mauritania, transforming a local crisis into a regional emergency. International partners, including financial backers and military suppliers, face a delicate balancing act: supporting Mali’s sovereignty while safeguarding transboundary critical infrastructure.
The gulf between the army’s operational claims and the harsh reality on the ground underscores the unprecedented nature of this conflict phase. The JNIM is no longer content with territorial control—it seeks to asphyxiate the Malian state itself. New confrontations are expected in the coming days, particularly around Kidal, where the stakes remain critically high.
