At times, urban centers aren’t besieged through direct military action but are instead crippled by cutting off vital supply lines, triggering unrest among residents. This is precisely what has unfolded in Kayes, a western Malian city known as the “gold capital,” located near the borders of Senegal and Mauritania. The area has become a strategic target for Jamaat Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), an al-Qaeda-affiliated militant faction. n nGiven the group’s reliance on gold mining to finance its operations, Kayes offers more than just mineral wealth. Its geographic position makes it a critical node for disrupting transport routes, thereby fueling public discontent and advancing broader objectives such as isolating Mali’s capital, Bamako, and increasing economic pressure on the ruling military junta. n nSince September 3, militants have blockaded Kayes and Nioro, halting and burning transport and cargo vehicles while abducting passengers. Although military intervention has eased the visible siege through intensified patrols and operations—especially crucial during the rainy season, which naturally hampers mobility—the insurgents have shifted tactics. They now aim to suffocate the city by obstructing the flow of essential supplies. n nThis approach has been labeled “economic terrorism” by the Timbuktu Institute, a Dakar-based research center, in a study released Friday. According to the analysis, Kayes has emerged as a primary strategic objective for the extremist group, viewed as a vital zone for destabilizing Mali’s economy or even paralyzing it entirely. n nThe report highlights that nearly 80 percent of Mali’s gold, its main revenue source, originates from Kayes. Additionally, around 30 percent of the country’s overland imports, including fuel and grain, move through National Route 1, which links Dakar’s port to Bamako via Kayes. n nCoordinated attacks in early July on military outposts along the Senegalese and Mauritanian borders, followed by an assault in late August on a road rehabilitation project along the same route, underscore a deliberate effort to disrupt commerce. The institute notes that the group is tightening its grip on central Mali and continuously refining methods to target key trade corridors—an approach researchers describe as establishing a “parallel economic control.” n nAttacks on fuel tankers across various regions are particularly significant, as fuel is essential for military logistics. For civilians, such disruptions drive up transportation costs and push economic actors into informal networks, where militants often impose levies. The study warns this dual impact weakens Mali’s economy while simultaneously generating revenue for the insurgents, who aim to create an alternative economic authority. n nBy imposing regulations on fuel and transport, the group positions itself as a de facto governing power, undermining the legitimacy of Mali’s transitional government. In a prior statement, Malian forces reported conducting successful airstrikes on September 10 in Kayes, Yelimane, and Nioro, hitting several strategic militant leadership sites, though casualty figures were not disclosed. n nThe Timbuktu Institute observes that JNIM has increased its attacks in Kayes by a factor of seven between 2021 and 2024, with a notable escalation since July. Recent operations have expanded beyond military and government targets to include industrial and mining sites operated by foreign companies, particularly Chinese firms, as seen in the town of Bafoulabé. n nDuring these raids, militants abducted at least three Indian nationals, an incident likely to deter foreign investment. Militarily, the group has intensified operations in Kayes without reducing pressure elsewhere, especially in central regions, aiming to disperse Malian armed forces and weaken their capacity to defend Bamako. n nThe study concludes with concerns about regional spillover, warning neighboring Mauritania and Senegal could face disrupted cross-border trade and potential security instability. n— news from al-ain news
