A critical analysis reveals that blockades have emerged as a primary instrument of conflict for the Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimeen (JNIM) in Mali. By systematically severing transportation routes, preventing access to vital agricultural lands, disrupting local markets, and imposing stringent social and religious doctrines, this armed group’s objective appears less about territorial conquest and more about systematically suffocating populations. Across communities like Marébougou, Saye, and Kori-Maoundé, residents are navigating a perilous existence, oscillating between outright resistance, innovative adaptation, and difficult, forced agreements.
