'Nothing is safe': Trade on route between Senegal and Mali grinds to a halt

AI Summary

Due to a blockade imposed by the Al-Qaeda affiliate JNIM, trade between Senegal and Mali has come to a standstill, raising significant concerns about resource availability in Mali. This blockade, enforced by ongoing conflicts, highlights the severe impact of militant actions on everyday life and trade.

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.