The history of central Mali is marked by sieges that have shaped communities for generations. From the wars of the Ségou State in the 19th century to the rise of the Katiba Macina, a branch of the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM), these blockades have evolved from punitive measures into a deliberate system of territorial control. Today, the siege is no longer just about isolating a village; it is a calculated strategy to enforce obedience without formal governance.
Research published by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) and the REcAP network reveals how these blockades have devastated life in the Mopti and Bandiagara regions. Villages like Marébougou, Saye, Kori-Maoundé, and the strategic Parou-Songobia bridge on National Road 15 face a systematic erosion of mobility, agriculture, commerce, education, and local authority. The goal is clear: make life untenable for those who refuse to submit.
Imposing the benkan: a one-sided
