Bamako: A string of coups and the expulsion of former colonial power France in favor of Russian support have not deterred insurgents from gaining strength across the so-called coup belt, stretching from Burkina Faso to Niger. The current blockade on Bamako has made it perilous for fuel delivery trucks to reach Mali's landlocked capital, raising concerns over what it would take to repel the JNIM and secure the city.

According to France24.com, Mali has faced similar threats in the past, most notably in 2013 when French forces intervened to prevent insurgents from capturing the capital. The intervention was initially welcomed, with then-president François Hollande receiving a hero's welcome in Timbuktu. However, that memory has faded, and the question now is how Malians can reclaim their own country and counter the insurgent threat.

With the jihadists offering their own alternatives, the situation poses a risk not only to Mali but also has potential spillover effects that could lead to failed states in the heart of the Sahel. The implications of such instability could extend beyond the region, affecting Europe and raising urgent questions about regional security and governance.