escalating jihadist blockade sparks bus burnings near Bamako
breaking news. Armed men torched multiple passenger buses on 16 May along the Bamako-Ségou corridor, just outside Mali’s capital. The brazen attacks mark the latest escalation in a months-long jihadist siege that has choked off key supply routes to Bamako.
Gunmen struck on 16 May, ambushing a transport convoy in the Faya classified forest zone along the Bamako-Ségou highway. Witnesses reported that assailants forced passengers from several buses before setting the vehicles ablaze.
casualties reported in violent assault
Resistance by some drivers triggered gunfire, leaving multiple people wounded. At least seven buses were reduced to smoldering wrecks, according to local accounts.
jihadist stranglehold tightens around capital
Since 30 April, armed groups linked to the JNIM—an Al-Qaïda affiliate—have enforced a road blockade on key arteries leading to Bamako. The clampdown follows a spate of coordinated attacks across the country late last month.
economic strain mounts ahead of Tabaski celebrations
The siege is crippling supply chains to the capital, particularly livestock shipments ahead of Tabaski festivities. Reports indicate that jihadists have torched several trucks carrying sheep in recent weeks, deepening shortages and fueling trader anxieties.
