The jihadist alliance JNIM has escalated its economic warfare campaign in Mali, pushing the crisis to a critical stage over the past weekend. At least a dozen passenger buses were set ablaze along the Ségou-Bamako highway, the primary eastern supply artery for the capital. Simultaneously, armed factions targeted and disabled electrical infrastructure linked to the Manantali hydroelectric dam in the Kayes region, further straining the nation’s already fragile energy grid.
Manantali under siege: a blow to Mali’s urban lifeline
The attack on Manantali is no isolated incident—it’s a calculated strike against Mali’s energy backbone. Operated under a tripartite agreement by Mali, Mauritania, and Senegal through the Senegal River Development Organization (OMVS), the dam supplies a significant portion of the country’s electricity. By damaging transmission lines, JNIM isn’t just targeting military posts; it’s choking the arteries of urban life—hospitals, markets, factories, and public services—where power cuts translate into immediate paralysis.
This campaign follows weeks of systematic disruption, including repeated ambushes on fuel convoys entering from Senegal and Côte d’Ivoire. The goal is clear: weaponize shortages to erode public confidence in the transitional government led by General Assimi Goïta. Bamako, once shielded from the worst impacts, now sits at the heart of a grinding war of attrition.
Army scrambles for control amid escalating threats
In response, Malian armed forces have intensified ground and air operations across multiple fronts. Recent military escorts have enabled hundreds of fuel tankers to reach Bamako, offering temporary relief to desperate gas stations. Yet this lifeline remains fragile—each convoy demands massive resources, and the long-term security of national roads remains elusive.
The military faces a double bind. In central and western Mali, JNIM continues to ambush convoys and sabotage infrastructure. To the north, near Kidal, tensions simmer with the Permanent Strategic Framework rebel coalition, where further clashes appear imminent. With dwindling manpower and equipment, Bamako’s forces are stretched thin across two distinct battlegrounds.
Regional spillover: when Mali’s crisis becomes a Sahel-wide threat
The blockade’s ripple effects extend far beyond Mali’s borders. Neighboring economies—including Senegal, Mauritania, and Côte d’Ivoire—are feeling the squeeze as trade corridors collapse. Ports in Dakar and Abidjan, which rely heavily on trans-Saharan transit, report declining cargo flows. The Sahel States Confederation, uniting Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, has yet to forge a unified counter-strategy against the jihadist economic offensive.
The Manantali attack also raises urgent questions about shared infrastructure under OMVS management. A deeper escalation risks disrupting power supplies to Mauritania and Senegal, turning a Malian conflict into a regional emergency. International partners now face a delicate balance: supporting Bamako’s sovereignty while protecting cross-border critical assets.
On the ground, the contrast is stark—between military claims of progress and the lived reality of a capital under siege. JNIM’s strategy has evolved: it’s no longer just about holding territory. It’s about suffocating a state. New confrontations are expected in the coming days, particularly around Kidal.