In Mali, travelers and transporters face severe disruptions following the blockade of key roads leading to Bamako. This measure, enforced by Jnim (Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims) after the April 25 attacks on multiple Malian towns, has left commercial vehicles and passenger buses stranded or destroyed.
Over the past week, dozens of transport trucks and goods vehicles heading toward the capital have been set ablaze by jihadist militants. While some transport companies continue operating in selected regions, others have suspended services entirely, citing safety concerns and logistical hurdles.
lengthy detours and canceled journeys
On May 11, a leading transport company in Bamako welcomed a bus that had departed from Nouakchott, Mauritania, days earlier. The journey, typically four days long, became a harrowing ordeal for passengers like Mody, a Malian migrant traveling to celebrate Eid al-Kabir on May 27.
« We left Nouakchott last Thursday at 7 a.m. and arrived in Gogui, near the border, at 11 p.m., » Mody recounted. « Drivers warned us the route was too dangerous, so we spent Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights waiting. Sunday morning, we were told a Malian military convoy would escort us. After a long wait, we moved forward without the convoy, heading toward Diéma in Mali. There, we learned that buses that had departed earlier had all turned back after threats from Jnim militants. »
A company spokesperson confirmed that ten buses remain stranded in neighboring countries, with two set ablaze over the weekend on national highways.
travelers stranded for days
At another transport hub connecting Bamako to central Malian cities like Ségou, passengers have faced delays of nearly a week. Seyba, a 60-year-old resident of Ségou, shared his predicament:
« I came to Bamako to offer condolences after a family loss, but now I’m stuck. No buses are available, and officials cite safety risks. I’ve checked four other companies—same story. If I can’t find transport back to Ségou, I’ll stay with relatives in Bamako longer. »
The company owner, speaking anonymously, revealed losing five buses in a single attack last Saturday. Militants burned the vehicles in an apparent enforcement of the blockade on Bamako-bound routes. In response, the company has temporarily halted all operations to and from the capital.
