By Our Correspondent

National News – Thousands of Muslims in Mali are facing a painful Eid-el-Kabir celebration after jihadist fighters blocked major roads leading into the capital, Bamako.

The blockade, imposed by an Al-Qaeda-linked group since late April, has disrupted travel, livestock supply, electricity, and fuel distribution across the country.

Residents who usually travel home for the annual Tabaski celebration have been forced to remain in Bamako due to fears of attacks on highways.

According to transport operators, dozens of buses and freight trucks have been burned along major routes, making road travel unsafe for families returning to villages and towns for the holiday.

Alpha Amadou, a resident originally from Mopti, said this would be his first Eid celebration away from home in three decades.

Other residents from Segou, Sikasso, and nearby regions also described cancelling family reunions because of worsening insecurity and rising violence on the roads.

The transport crisis has also affected the livestock market, which plays a major role during Eid celebrations.

Traders said the cost of moving sheep into Bamako has increased sharply after several livestock trucks were reportedly attacked and destroyed.

As a result, sheep prices have surged from around 75,000 CFA francs to nearly 300,000 CFA francs, placing them beyond the reach of many families already struggling with Mali’s economic hardship.

Power outages and water shortages have worsened conditions in Bamako ahead of the festival.

Tailors making traditional Eid outfits complained that unstable electricity has delayed production, while many families fear meat from sacrificed animals could spoil because of poor power supply.

Authorities recently announced the arrival of additional fuel tankers into the city, offering limited hope for relief.

However, for many citizens, the chance to reunite with loved ones this Eid has already disappeared as insecurity continues to grip Mali.