This past Wednesday evening, Malians observed Eid al-Adha, locally known as Tabaski, under particularly unusual circumstances. Following a sophisticated assault on April 25th that significantly destabilized the military regime and impacted Defense Minister Sadio Camara, the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (GSIM) had issued a chilling warning of a « final offensive » on Bamako, aiming to topple the ruling junta.

Historically, jihadist factions often time their military operations to coincide with Muslim holidays, driven by the belief that such actions garner greater divine favor.

This year, the price of sacrificial sheep became prohibitively high for most households, both in urban centers and rural areas, a direct consequence of the persistent pressure from armed groups. Across the countryside, these groups either impose ‘taxes’ by seizing a portion of livestock or outright confiscate entire herds for resale. In Bamako, they enforced a city-wide boycott, a tactic previously seen in Burkina Faso and other Malian regions. While not entirely watertight, as Malian security forces forcefully keep most major routes open, this boycott significantly impacted the morale of Bamako residents.

Exorbitant prices were also noted in Niamey, Niger, which faces relentless assaults in its western regions—traditional sources of livestock—from both the GSIM and the Islamic State in the Sahel. In recent days, both groups have targeted multiple military and civilian sites, resulting in numerous casualties. They capitalized on the operational vacuum created by the Nigerien army’s deployment further north, as part of a planned counter-offensive to reclaim Kidal.