“This year marks the first time in my 30 years living in Bamako that I will celebrate Tabaski here,” laments Alpha Amadou Kané. The 40-year-old, originally from Mopti in central Mali, has been forced to forgo traveling to his hometown for the significant Muslim holiday due to persistent jihadist assaults on public transportation networks.

Since late April, an Al-Qaeda affiliate operating in the Sahel region has imposed a road blockade on major routes leading into the Malian capital. This campaign has involved the burning of numerous buses and commercial trucks, creating a climate of fear and disruption. This ongoing West Africa news highlights the severe security challenges facing the region.

Although the blockade is not absolute, widespread images of torched vehicles have compelled many transport companies to suspend services to Bamako, deterring countless individuals from journeying to their ancestral villages for family celebrations. For many in Mali, Tabaski transcends its religious observance; it is a profound social tradition, a rare occasion for families, often separated by professional obligations for months, to reunite.

The bustling activity typically seen in Bamako’s bus terminals on the eve of this festive period has been replaced by an eerie quiet. Beyond the pervasive insecurity, the transport sector is grappling with critical fuel shortages, further exacerbating the logistical challenges. This situation significantly impacts the African economy today, particularly in the transport and trade sectors.

“Not only do we lack diesel to maintain regular routes, but we have also suffered the loss of buses in recent incidents. This represents an immense economic setback,” states the anonymous head of a local travel agency, underscoring the financial strain.

The operations manager of a major transport firm reveals the drastic change: “Normally, we could transport over 50,000 people from Bamako to the interior of the country in the week leading up to Tabaski. This year, we anticipate no such movements.”

For Wara Bagayoko, the ritual was unchanging for three decades: loading the family car and heading to the Ségou region in central Mali for communal celebrations. With a heavy heart, he breaks this long-standing tradition, as private vehicles are now also targets. “It will be the first time in 30 years I won’t celebrate in my village. The road is simply too perilous,” he regrets.

Nevertheless, while most large transport companies have ceased operations, some minibuses continue to enter the city, either by using alternative, circuitous routes or under military escort along specific corridors.

– Shortage of sacrificial sheep –

The paralysis of transportation has a suffocating effect on the livestock industry, which is vital for the ritual sacrifice during Tabaski. Due to the blockade, herders and traders from pastoral areas face immense difficulties in bringing their animals to Bamako, the country’s primary market.

Alassane Maïga, a transporter, explains that the cost of moving a single head of livestock to the capital, usually between 2,500 and 2,750 CFA francs (approximately 4 euros), has this year skyrocketed to 15,000 to 18,000 CFA francs (between 22 and 27 euros).

Consequently, the sheep—sacrificed in commemoration of Abraham’s willingness to offer his son to God—is both scarce and significantly more expensive this year. This is particularly challenging in a nation where the minimum wage stands at 40,000 CFA francs (60 euros). These Bamako Tabaski challenges are deeply felt by ordinary citizens.

“Many trucks carrying sheep have been set ablaze by jihadists… Normally, I would have over 1,000 animals, but today, not a single one,” states Hama Ba, a vendor in Bamako.

Iyi, desperately searching for a ram within his budget, sighs, “Sheep that we used to buy for 75,000 CFA francs (114 euros) are now selling for 300,000 CFA francs (457 euros) this year. Before, we had a wide selection, but today, a sheep is practically invisible in Bamako.”

– Electricity outages –

Adding to the security crisis is a critical deterioration of essential services within Bamako. The capital is enduring extensive and prolonged electricity load shedding, compounded by severe shortages of potable water. This combination of issues further complicates daily life and the upcoming festivities.

The “Selifini,” the traditional festive attire, is still pending at tailors’ shops. They are struggling to fulfill customer orders due to the frequent power cuts. Énergie du Mali, the national energy company that primarily operates thermal power plants running on fuel oil and diesel, is finding it difficult to restore normal diesel supply levels, a direct consequence of the blockade.

“We tried to find a small solar panel. But a panel cannot replace grid electricity,” laments Alou Diallo, a tailor in Bamako.

Furthermore, households are increasingly concerned about their ability to preserve food products for the holiday. “How are we going to store meat without electricity? Buying a costly sheep only to risk losing the meat within 24 hours due to power outages is a nightmare,” worries a mother from the peripheral Sirakoro neighborhood.

In recent days, Malian authorities have announced the arrival of hundreds of fuel tankers in Bamako, a potential glimmer of hope amidst the ongoing difficulties.