Militants Ambush Truck Convoy Headed to Blockaded Bamako

Militants ambushed a convoy of trucks heading to Mali’s blockaded capital of Bamako on Wednesday, a transportation workers union reported. The attackers opened fire on the convoy of trucks from Morocco carrying fruit, according to a member of the road transport branch of the Democratic Confederation of Labor union.

The fate of the drivers was not immediately known. The government has not confirmed the ambush. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack. A security official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the attack took place between Bamako and Bougouni, a town about 175 kilometers from the capital.

Last month, al-Qaida-linked militants from the Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin group, known as JNIM, joined forces with the separatist Azawad Liberation Front in a coordinated wave of attacks. The attacks were the heaviest the country has seen since 2012.

The militants and rebels seized several cities and towns as well as military posts from the Malian military and its ally, the Russia-backed Africa Corps. Mali's former defense minister Sadio Camara was killed in the wave of attacks. Mali's military leader Assimi Goita has since taken on the duties of the defense minister.

JNIM also announced a blockade of Bamako, set up roadblocks and said it was banning everyone from entering the city.

September 2025, the group enforced a road blockade on oil imports into landlocked Mali. Since the announced blockade more than a week ago, people have struggled to reach Bamako. This has particularly affected two key roads, one connecting the capital with Kayes 583 kilometers to the northwest and the city of Kita 189 kilometers to the west.