amnesty international urges respect for civilian movement in Mali amid escalating conflict

Amnesty International has issued a strong appeal to the JNIM jihadist group, urging them to uphold the safety and unrestricted movement of civilians across Mali. This comes as the insurgent group has enforced a two-week road blockade around the capital, Bamako, leaving residents vulnerable to attacks and disrupting essential supplies. Since April 30, the jihadists have cut off several crucial routes leading into the capital, a city that, like much of the landlocked nation, relies heavily on road-borne imports.

In a recent statement, Amnesty declared, “The ongoing blockade of Bamako imposes unacceptable constraints on civilians’ freedom of movement and risks severe violations of their rights to food security, health, and life.”

The human rights organization specifically called on the JNIM to adhere to international humanitarian law. They highlighted an incident on May 6, detailing an attack on “a convoy of trucks transporting goods belonging to civilian companies, notably fruits, between Bamako and Bougouni” in the southern region. Amnesty underscored that these trucks were “not escorted by the army and carried no military personnel or equipment.”

malian army intensifies strikes

Meanwhile, the Malian army has confirmed its intention to escalate airstrikes on Kidal in the coming days. The city has been under the control of Touareg rebels from the Front de libération de l’Azawad (FLA) and their JNIM jihadist allies, the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims, since late April. The Malian military has reported conducting multiple strikes on Kidal, while Touareg separatists claim to be holding 200 Malian soldiers captured during attacks on April 25.

A Kidal resident reported that the city is experiencing power outages, and telephone communication remains challenging, affecting Kidal and several other northern Malian towns.

Amidst conflicting reports, residents on the ground struggle to discern reliable information.

In Gao, a resident described a climate of distrust, even though the city is controlled by Malian authorities. She explained that residents are advised to rely on government communiqués and noted a significant increase in the prices of certain foodstuffs, with the cost of onions having doubled.

Hervé Lankoandé Wendyam, an independent analyst specializing in political and security dynamics in West Africa, commented, “There is a clear intent to separate the North from the rest of the country. What is unfolding in central Mali is largely the JNIM’s desire to elevate the conflict to a new level by seizing control of urban centers.”

the situation in central Mali

A source familiar with the country’s central region indicates that several areas are under jihadist control, specifically the left bank of the Niger River in the Ségou region and parts of the Koulikoro region. State administration is reportedly absent in these zones.

Jihadists are collecting zakat, an Islamic tax, in hundreds of villages, and numerous schools have been forced to close. A report from late January revealed that over 2,300 schools were shut down across Mali, with the northern and central regions being the most severely affected.

Abdoulaye Sounaye, a researcher and expert on jihadist groups in the Sahel, suggests that the forces involved are currently in a phase of observation, reorganization, and rearmament, particularly on the side of the Malian army.

“I have the impression that the government and the military regime are preparing to avenge the affront. Meanwhile, the JNIM and FLA forces are also observing and bracing for a potential resumption of hostilities from the Malian army. Caught between these forces, the populations will, unfortunately, continue to endure abuses from either side.”

According to a regional expert, the path to resolving the security crisis in northern and central Mali, and indeed across the entire country, lies in establishing dialogue with all parties involved.

Ahmed Ould Abdallah from the 4S center emphasized, “Today, the crisis affects various social groups. It is incumbent upon the government, alongside the national elite of all political persuasions, to come together and overcome this crisis through a settlement and negotiation. There is a political problem that the Malian authorities must address. They can resolve it if they are open. If the Malian leadership wishes to avoid an perpetual crisis, the current government must declare its readiness for genuine dialogue with all segments of the country.”

Abdoulaye Sounaye, Director of Research Unit at the Leibniz-Zentrum Moderner Orient in Berlin, Germany, predicted, “I believe that sooner or later, these warring factions will be compelled to sit at a table and reach an agreement.”

Despite these calls, Mali officially rejects any negotiations with the FLA and JNIM, labeling them as terrorist entities. However, to facilitate the supply of fuel to Mali, secret negotiations were reportedly conducted between Malian military authorities and JNIM jihadists in the past.