Bamako residents defy jihadist blockade for Tabaski celebrations

Alpha Amadou Kané has spent three decades in Bamako, but this year marks his first Tabaski celebration in the Malian capital. The 40-year-old from Mopti, a city in central Mali, had planned to return to his hometown to celebrate with family, but jihadist attacks on public transport have made this journey impossible.

Since late April, militants linked to Al-Qaïda in the Sahel have enforced a partial blockade on major roads leading to Bamako, torching buses and cargo trucks. Though not total, the attack on vehicles has deterred transport companies from operating regular routes and discouraged travelers from risking the journey home for the holiday.

For Malians, Tabaski isn’t merely a religious observance—it’s a vital social tradition that reunites families dispersed by work across the country. Yet this year, the usual bustle in Bamako’s bus stations ahead of the festival has been replaced by eerie silence.

The transport sector faces dual crises: relentless insecurity and severe fuel shortages. “We’re not just facing irregular diesel supplies; we’ve lost entire buses to recent attacks. The economic impact is devastating,” admits a local travel agency manager who requested anonymity.

Under normal circumstances, transport companies could move over 50,000 passengers weekly from Bamako to interior regions during Tabaski. This year, none are operating. “We’ve canceled all scheduled trips,” confirms a major transport company operations manager.

Wara Bagayoko has followed the same routine for 30 years: loading his family into their vehicle and driving to Ségou for Tabaski celebrations. This year, he’s breaking tradition at great personal cost. “It’s the first time in three decades I won’t celebrate in my village. The roads are simply too dangerous,” he laments.

While large transport companies have suspended operations, some minibuses still enter Bamako—either via alternative routes or under military escort on certain roads.

Critical livestock shortage

The transport blockade has crippled Mali’s essential livestock supply chain, crucial for the Tabaski sacrificial ritual. Herders and traders from pastoral zones struggle to get animals to Bamako, the country’s main market.

Transport costs for a single animal have skyrocketed from 2,500-2,750 CFA francs (€3.80-4.20) to 15,000-18,000 CFA francs (€22-27), explains Alassane Maïga, a livestock transporter. The price surge comes as Mali’s minimum wage remains at 40,000 CFA francs (€60).

“Many livestock trucks have been burned by jihadists… Normally I’d have over 1,000 animals in stock, but today I have none,” says Hama Ba, a Bamako livestock vendor.

Sheep that once cost 75,000 CFA francs (€114) now sell for 300,000 CFA francs (€457). “Before, we had plenty of options. Now quality rams are nearly impossible to find at any price,” laments Iyi, a resident searching desperately for an affordable animal.

Power and water crises compound hardships

Security threats are compounded by collapsing basic services in Bamako. The capital faces severe electricity shortages and critical drinking water shortages. Tailors who normally prepare festive garments struggle to fulfill orders without reliable power.

The Malian Energy Company, which operates primarily on diesel and heavy fuel oil plants, can’t maintain normal fuel supplies due to the blockade. “We tried installing a small solar panel, but it can’t replace grid electricity,” says Alou Diallo, a Bamako tailor.

Families also fear food spoilage without refrigeration. “How can we preserve meat when power cuts last 24 hours? Buying an expensive sheep only to lose the meat within a day is a nightmare scenario,” worries a mother in the Sirakoro district.

In recent days, Malian authorities announced the arrival of hundreds of fuel tankers in Bamako to address shortages.