Al-Qaeda Siege Strangles Bamako Ahead of Eid al-Adha

Eid al-Adha will be observed tomorrow, Wednesday, under exceptionally harsh conditions in Bamako, where a siege imposed since late April has transformed preparations into a severe ordeal for hundreds of thousands of families in Mali.

The group Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), affiliated with Al-Qaeda, has sealed off the main supply routes to the capital, disrupting the delivery of sheep, food, and fuel as one of the Sahel region’s most important religious holidays nears.

Over several weeks, JNIM militants have carried out systematic attacks on commercial convoys linking Bamako with production areas in the south and west, as well as with borders adjoining Côte d'Ivoire, Senegal, and Mauritania.

Dozens of trucks on key roads leading to the capital have been set on fire, hindering transport and trade and forcing convoys to travel only under military escort. The Malian army provides protection for some high-priority convoys, yet the frequency of shipments has sharply declined.

This economic siege strategy marks a tactical shift, as JNIM, previously confined largely to central and northern rural areas, now targets the capital’s logistical arteries. By disrupting supply chains, the group directly affects household purchasing power and undermines the legitimacy of the transitional authorities struggling to maintain free movement of goods.

Local media have reported on the situation in Bamako’s livestock markets, highlighting a stark contrast with previous years. Pens are nearly empty because herders from the central Sahel region hesitate to risk traveling.

Consequently, prices have surged dramatically, making the purchase of sacrificial sheep unattainable for an increasing number of families. For many residents of Bamako, borrowing money or pooling resources among relatives has become the only way to fulfill this religious obligation.

According to figures from the Ministry of Livestock cited by the government newspaper L’Essor, authorities had planned to transport 12,000 sheep to the Bamako area.

However, “logistical and security difficulties” imposed by militants have limited arrivals to only 2,300 sheep as of Sunday, May 24, three days before Eid al-Adha.

Sheep are present in Bamako but in numbers far below usual levels. A Malian economist estimates the count at “perhaps half the usual number,” while a senior sector official states that markets received roughly 60% of the customary volume.

More importantly, prices are extremely high. Numerous Bamako residents unanimously describe the costs as “exorbitant and astronomical.”

The price increases extend beyond livestock to essential food items such as oil, sugar, and spices typically consumed during the holiday.

This food inflation worsens the decline in purchasing power caused by years of regional sanctions, the gradual withdrawal of Western partners, and budget reallocations toward military efforts. Low-income families, who constitute the majority of urban populations, respond to this shock by reducing quantities, pooling purchases, or even foregoing certain necessities altogether.

The food crisis is compounded by a chronic electricity shortage. Mali’s energy company, struggling to secure power supplies and operating with aging infrastructure, increasingly resorts to load shedding.

These power outages, lasting several hours and sometimes over half a day, complicate meat preservation after slaughter, weaken small neighborhood businesses, and undermine the social cohesion of a holiday traditionally celebrated by family reunions.

For the transitional authorities, Eid al-Adha 2026 represents a test of credibility. Securing the main import corridors has become a matter of social stability. Many regional analysts note that the economic strangulation strategy employed by JNIM draws inspiration from tactics used in neighboring Burkina Faso, where secondary cities like Djibo endured similar sieges lasting several months.