Dozens of vehicles burnt as Mali jihadists enforce blockade

Dozens of vehicles, including fuel tankers, minibuses. trucks, have been set on fire near Mali's capital, Bamako, as jihadists step up a blockade of the city, the BBC has confirmed.

Videos filmed from passing vehicles. verified by the BBC show the charred remains of the vehicles from on a road about 45km (28 miles) west of Bamako. There are no reports of casualties - those on board were said to have been asked to get out before the vehicles were burnt.

Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM). a jihadist group affiliated to al-Qaeda, imposed a fuel blockade on Bamako last year, which it tightened after attacking the city last month.

The BBC has contacted Mali's government for comment.

Mali is a landlocked country and depends heavily on fuel transported from neighbouring coastal countries like Senegal and Ivory Coast.

The militants have kidnapped drivers. burnt more than 100 fuel trucks on major highways in the country since last year, but some have made it to Bamako under military escort.

In the latest attack, BBC Verify authenticated the videos through matching two distinctive buildings on the side of the road to satellite imagery. checking for AI manipulation.

Nasa's satellite-based platform Firms -. detects heat sources on Earth's surface – also detected a heat signature at the same location on Tuesday.

The fuel blockade is intended to suffocate Mali's economy. weaken the legitimacy of the military leaders in power, experts say.

Mali is currently led by Gen Assimi Goïta, who first seized power in a coup in 2020, promising to restore security. push back the armed groups.

In January, he appointed 47-year-old Brig Gen Famouké Camara to head a special operation to counter the fuel blockade,. attacks on fuel convoys have continued.

Before the latest attack, the fuel crisis resulting from the blockade had appeared to be easing.

When the jihadists imposed a fuel blockade last year, it caused shortages. a sharp increase in prices in the capital.

Last month, they ordered a total blockade, leaving residents worried.

Eyewitnesses told the BBC at the time that at least three of the six main routes into the city would be closed for hours at a time,. while the fighters moved elsewhere, some vehicles would manage to slowly get through.

This partial blockade has led to high costs of basic commodities.

One man said that a kilo of potatoes that used to be 350 francs ($0.62; £0.46) now cost 500 ($0.90).

"Everything in the market has become expensive," he said.

Ahead of the Islamic holiday of Eid al-Adha, which is next week, there are often lots of sheep being sold on the streets of the capital of the Muslim-majority country -. it is not the case this year.

Muslims are supposed to slaughter an animal to commemorate the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice his son Ishmael as an act of obedience to God's command.

Every Muslim family in Mali tries to buy an animal to slaughter for Eid,. this year, the blockade means it has been difficult to transport animals to the city.

One sheep seller told the BBC: "Lots of people are blocked on the road. People are afraid because they [Islamists] take the animals."

As a result, prices have shot up. One man told the BBC he could not afford to buy a sheep this year. Instead, he and some friends are thinking of coming together to buy a bull to slaughter.

The blockade has also made it risky for people to travel to their home villages over the festive period. as they usually do.

"Travelling would put your life at risk. as well as that of your family," said a resident, who identified himself as Moussa.

"I've decided to stay and celebrate in Bamako," he added.

The junta had popular support when it seized power five years ago. promising to deal with the long-running security crisis, prompted by a separatist rebellion in the north, which was then hijacked by Islamist militants like JNIM.

The junta has however struggled to contain the deadly insurgency despite the support of Russian mercenaries, making much of the north. east of the country ungovernable.

Last month, ethnic Tuareg separatists. JNIM launched coordinated attacks on major towns and cities across the country, leading to the death of Defence Minister Sadio Camara after an apparent suicide truck bombing on residence near the capital.

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