Mali’s dire struggle: facing Jnim blockades with hunger, fear, and forced deals

Blockades have become a central weapon in Jnim’s arsenal across Mali. This armed group’s strategy focuses less on territorial conquest and more on systematic suffocation. They achieve this by sealing off crucial roads, denying communities access to their agricultural fields, crippling local markets, and enforcing strict social and religious edicts. In towns like Marébougou, Saye, and Kori-Maoundé, residents are enduring immense pressure, attempting to survive through a mix of resistance, innovative adaptation, and forced compromises.