Mali army escorts 940 supply trucks to Bamako amid terror attack fears on trade routes

The Malian Armed Forces (FAMa) have escorted a convoy of 940 civilian trucks carrying food and fuel supplies safely to Bamako in one of the country's largest recent security operations since terrorists launched attacks on critical supply routes, leading to fuel shortages in the capital.

The convoy travelled along the strategic corridors between June 23 and June 29, passing through Kayes, Sandare, Diema and Kati before arriving in Bamako without major incident, according to the military.

The operation came as security on Mali's western road network continues to face challenges and fuel supplies remain under pressure.

FAMa said an initial escort mission secured the movement of 540 civilian trucks from Kayes to Sandare.

Other military attachments

A second military detachment departing from Diema on June 23 joined the operation, collecting additional vehicles stranded along the route. After regrouping, the convoy expanded to 940 trucks before continuing to the capital.

The Kayes-Bamako highway is one of Mali's most important economic lifelines, connecting Bamako with western regions and trade routes to Senegal and Mauritania. It carries petroleum products, food supplies, commercial goods and industrial equipment that are essential for the country's economy.

Securing the corridor has become increasingly important since the al-Qaeda-linked terror group JNIM announced in September 2025 that it would prevent fuel tankers from entering Mali from neighbouring countries.

Since that declaration, hundreds of trucks transporting fuel and other goods from Côte d'Ivoire and Senegal have reportedly been attacked or set ablaze, disrupting supply chains and forcing authorities to rely heavily on military escorts.

Securing commercial traffic

Military authorities say the convoy escorts form part of broader operations to secure Mali's main transport corridors, protect civilians and commercial traffic, and ensure the continued movement of essential goods through areas increasingly threatened by armed groups.

The escort missions have been accompanied by intensified counterterrorism operations across the country. In February, Malian authorities said the armed forces carried out a series of coordinated strikes west of the central city of Segou that killed several dozen terrorists.

According to the military, a separate operation later targeted around 10 suspected terrorists attempting to land by canoe on the left bank of the Niger River, west of Segou, destroying both the fighters and their logistical equipment. In another operation in the same area, security forces said they detected and neutralized about 10 suspected militants travelling on motorcycles.