Jihadist fighters have cut off Mali's capital, Bamako, leaving thousands unable to travel home for Eid celebrations and creating severe shortages of essential goods including sacrificial animals.
The blockade, enforced by militant groups controlling territory around the city, has halted all transport routes in and out of the capital. Residents report that checkpoints operated by the jihadists prevent movement, effectively isolating Bamako from the rest of the country during one of Islam's most important festivals.
The timing could not be worse. Families across Mali typically travel during Eid al-Adha to spend the holiday together, but this year the blockade has made such journeys impossible. Those stranded in the capital face a hollow celebration far from relatives they had planned to see.
Sheep and other livestock needed for Eid sacrifices have become impossible to find in Bamako's markets. Farmers from surrounding regions, who would normally bring animals to sell ahead of the festival, cannot reach the city. Prices for available livestock have soared as desperate residents scramble to find what little is available.
The blockade has compounded Bamako's existing infrastructure crisis. Power cuts have worsened across the city, leaving residents without electricity for extended periods. Water supply has also become erratic, adding to the hardship.
The jihadist presence around Bamako reflects the broader security crisis gripping Mali. Multiple armed groups, some affiliated with al-Qaeda and others with the Islamic State, control vast swathes of the country outside major cities. The government's military capacity to repel them remains weak despite international support.
Civil society organisations and humanitarian groups have warned that the blockade threatens food security and could spark a humanitarian emergency if it persists. Aid workers say they are struggling to deliver assistance to trapped residents, and medical supplies are running low.
Local authorities have made no public statements about when they expect to break the blockade or restore transport links. Residents wait to see if the government can reopen routes before Eid celebrations end.
