The Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), an Al-Qaeda-linked armed group, has announced the lifting of the blockade on Boni town and the reopening of the main road linking Bamako to Gao, effective Saturday, March 29.
The decision follows what JNIM described as “intensive discussions and vigorous negotiations” with undisclosed parties. In a statement, the group said it was acting “in accordance with Sharia law and for the benefit of Muslims in the region.”
The blockade on Boni, a town in Mali’s Mopti region, had been in place since June 2023, cutting off access to essential supplies and isolating the local population for nearly two years. Similarly, the critical Bamako-Gao route had remained impassable for more than a year due to JNIM-imposed restrictions, severely affecting trade and movement across central and northern Mali.
While the reopening of Boni and the Bamako-Gao road is expected to ease transportation and economic activities, large parts of Mali remain under militant-imposed embargoes. Areas such as Nara and Ménaka continue to suffer from similar restrictions, further exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in these regions.
