politics
Russian Forces Escort Fuel Convoy to Bamako
Russian forces escorted a fuel tanker column to Mali's capital Bamako, protected by armored vehicles, as JNIM imposed a blockade following its offensive against the ruling junta. The Al Qaeda-affiliated group, allied with the Azawad Liberation Front, seized northern cities including Kidal on April 25, 2026.
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A Russian African Corps Mi-24 helicopter escorted a fuel tanker column to Bamako, Mali's capital, with armored vehicles providing additional ground protection. JNIM, an Al Qaeda-affiliated terrorist group, declared a blockade of Bamako after launching an offensive against Mali's ruling junta.
JNIM and its pro-independence allies from the Azawad Liberation Front launched the offensive on April 25, 2026, attacking several cities including Bamako.
The groups seized control of several northern cities, including Kidal, on April 25, 2026, and are now imposing the blockade on Bamako. Sadio Camara, Malian Defense Minister, was killed on April 25, 2026, in an attack attributed to JNIM jihadists. A funeral for Sadio Camara was held in Bamako on April 30, 2026.
Mali's ruling military and their Russian allies from Africa Corps face a threat from jihadists, with JNIM and the Azawad Liberation Front coordinating the attacks. Jean-Hervé Jezequel, Sahel Project Director at the International Crisis Group, stated in an interview with Le Monde that the conflict in Mali has been ongoing since 2012.
Jezequel said, 'We are witnessing a turning point in this conflict, which has been ongoing since 2012.
That being said, I do not think that JNIM aims to seize Bamako in the short term. The capital is a very large city that would not be easy to control or administer.
