Nigeria, Oct. 6 -- Since 3 September, the al-Qaeda-affiliated Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) has been obstructing traffic on the strategic roads linking Mali to Senegal and Mauritania.

The terrorist group is carrying out its threat to blockade the cities of Kayes and Nioro in retaliation for the local populations' alleged support for the Malian army.

Despite counter-efforts by the authorities, the roadblocks continue. Along with occasional blockades, several tankers and buses were set alight between 3 and 14 September, and travellers were kidnapped on the routes to Senegal and Mauritania. The road linking Bamako to Cote d'Ivoire was also targeted between the towns of Zegoua and Sikasso. Militants have set three fuel tanks a...