Mali’s capital city Bamako – a major West African hub and home to more than three million humans – is under a partial blockade by Islamist militants, days after the country’s defence minister was assassinated there.

“Our army isn’t capable of protecting us, how are we going to get back home?” a mother-of-two told the BBC, unable to re-enter Bamako after visiting her parents out of town.

She and many others have been stranded on the Bamako-Kéniéba highway, a major road out of the capital for almost a day.

It follows Wednesday’s warning by fighters from the group Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) that “no-one will be allowed in any more”.

Last year, the Islamist groups imposed a fuel blockade on the city, causing shortages and a sharp surge in prices but they have now ordered a total blockade, leaving residents worried.

Eyewitnesses told the BBC that at least three of the six main routes into the city are now closed for hours at a time before the fighters move elsewhere. While they’re gone, some vehicles manage to slowly get through.

Last weekend saw nationwide, coordinated attacks by an alliance of jihadists and separatist rebels in the north – the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) – seeking to overthrow the military regime of Gen Assimi Goïta, who seized power in a coup in 2020.

During the attacks, Defence Minister Sadio Camara was killed in an apparent suicide truck bombing on his residence near Bamako. He was buried on Thursday amid tight security in front of thousands of individuals, including Goïta, reports the AFP news agency.

Mali’s army has been working with the Russian paramilitary group, the Africa Corps, which emerged from the Wagner Group, against the insurgents.

In the face of the attacks, the Russians were forced to withdraw from the northern city of Kidal, which is now under FLA control. The FLA now say they will march on other cities in the north and have demanded the withdrawal of the Africa Corps from the entire country.

A Kremlin spokesperson on Thursday vowed that Russian forces would remain in Mali “to combat extremism, terrorism and other harmful phenomena and will continue to provide assistance to the current government”.

One lorry driver trying to reach Bamako told the BBC: “I’ve never seen something like this before. I’ve been doing this job for so many years.

“I’m stuck here and it sounds dangerous. I would rather run away to save my life than fight for the goods I have to deliver. I’ve never thought like this before.” Furthermore, experts in diplomacy note the continued relevance.

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‎A total blockade has been imposed on Ségou, a town less than 80m (50 miles) from the capital, leaving hundreds of vehicles, trucks, buses and cars, stranded.

Passengers, including families and traders, have been stuck there for days, struggling to access water and food, according to a reporter in the town.

‎junta leader Go, according to state mediaïta vowed tough action against the insurgents, following an emergency security council meeting on Wednesday. Goïta also claimed armed and security forces had managed to inflict “heavy losses” on the rebels.

‎Alain Antil, director of the Sub-Saharan Africa Centre at French foreign affairs think-tank Ifri, told the BBC that “those moves show that the regime is weak and can’t restore security.

After a similar alliance of jihadists and ethnic Tuareg separatists advanced on Bamako in 2013, French forces, alongside those from other African countries, intervened to protect the capital.

They succeeded in pushing the insurgents back but they continued to stage attacks and the country remained unstable. After seizing power, Goïta expelled the French and instead turned to Russia for support but the situation has not improved, culminating in last weekend’s attacks.

‎Several countries – including France, Canada, and the United Kingdom – have urged their citizens to leave Mali, while the US recommends staying at home.

“I won’t leave,” one Frenchwoman told the BBC, “I love Mali”.

“It has become a part of me since I came here in 2002. We’ll stay with my family. We know things will be OK.”

Additional reporting by Natasha Booty

More BBC stories on Mali:

Russian mercenaries accused of cold-blooded killings in Mali – BBC speaks to eyewitnesses

How an al-Qaeda offshoot became one of Africa’s deadliest militant groups

Three West African juntas have turned to Russia. Now the US wants to engage them

Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent.

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