Mali's Key Trade Route Blocked by Islamist Militants, Grinding Commerce to a Halt
Trade between Senegal and Mali has effectively stopped due to a blockade imposed by an Al-Qaeda affiliate, the JNIM, on the crucial route from Dakar to Bamako. The blockade is impacting Mali's access to vital resources amidst ongoing conflict.
Without access to the sea, Mali relies on goods by road but the corridor that leads from Senegal’s Dakar to Mali’s capital Bamako has however become increasingly dangerous due to a blockade imposed by the Al-Qaeda affiliate JNIM since April 28th. As fighting continues between the militant group, the junta forces and their Russian allies, the route has become a pressure point in the conflict, as the armed group try to choke Mali's capital of resources.