Tuareg Rebel forces in northern Mali, also known as the Permanent Strategic Framework (CSP), declared a blockade on major roads, including those leading to Mauritania, Algeria, and Niger.
The cities of Menaka, Kidal, Gao, Timbuktu, and Taoudeni would be affected, with the blockade encompassing all products and transportation.
This move from Tuareg rebels comes as the Malian army gained ground in recent weeks, recapturing the city of Kidal in mid-November.
The conflict reignited in August after eight years of calm following the withdrawal of UN peacekeepers.
Mali’s military rulers, who took power in 2020, deny the presence of Russian Wagner force mercenaries, despite rebel and local official claims.
Reports of alleged atrocities during the army’s offensive persist, but obtaining accurate information from the inaccessible and insecure northern Mali remains a challenge.
