Mali: military junta restricts access to 40 forests to combat jihadists
The Malian military junta is implementing a significant shift in its territorial control strategy. A ministerial decree, made public on Friday, June 5, 2026, by the Bamako authorities, designates approximately forty forest areas across the nation as military interest zones. These specific areas are now exclusively reserved for operations by the Malian Armed Forces (FAMa) and are strictly off-limits to civilians. This measure directly targets suspected strongholds of jihadist groups linked to the Islamic State in the Sahel and Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM).
Redefining territorial use: a new security map
The decree meticulously outlines the affected forest blocks, spanning various regions of the country. Notably, the wooded areas in the central and southern parts of Mali, which have long served as sanctuary and retreat bases for armed combatants, are prominently featured in this new framework. By restricting access to these vital spaces, the junta aims to disrupt the logistical supply lines of extremist factions and facilitate targeted aerial operations, minimizing risk to civilian populations.
The strategic decision to regulate these forest zones is far from arbitrary. For over a decade, these dense massifs have functioned as complex “grey zones,” where subsistence economies, illicit trade, and insurgent activities intertwine. Local villagers traditionally rely on these forests for firewood, medicinal plants, and game, while pastoralists move their livestock through them. This new legal framework fundamentally alters this delicate balance, effectively placing these essential resources under military oversight.
Practically, any civilian entry into these designated areas will now incur penalties, and search and sweep operations can proceed without prior warning. This directive aligns with the firm doctrine championed by the colonels in power since the twin coups of 2020 and 2021, a period that saw the termination of French military presence and a pivot in the security architecture towards Russian partners.
Military gamble with significant humanitarian repercussions
The tactical effectiveness of this initiative hinges on the FAMa and their auxiliary forces’ sustained presence and control over these forest terrains. Helicopter-borne operations and precision strikes, which have become central to Mali’s security efforts since the departure of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) in 2023, now benefit from an expanded legal mandate within these prohibited zones. For Bamako, this also serves as a public declaration of renewed initiative in confronting an escalating insecurity that has spread southward, reaching the outskirts of Bamako and Kayes.
Nevertheless, the social ramifications could be profound. Tens of thousands of residents live in close proximity to the targeted forest areas, deriving a substantial portion of their livelihoods from forest exploitation. This prohibition risks further destabilizing rural communities already grappling with severe drought, soaring food inflation, and the closure of vital cross-border markets. The precedent set in Burkina Faso, where similar military interest zones were established as early as 2023, demonstrates a clear correlation between the expansion of militarized perimeters and widespread internal displacement.
Sahelian convergence: increasing militarization of spaces
Mali’s approach is part of a broader regional trend. Burkina Faso and Niger, key partners within the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), have, since 2024, increasingly implemented exceptional territorial measures to regain control from armed groups. This doctrinal convergence reflects a shared vision of security sovereignty, emphasizing the physical control of peripheral areas and the temporary suspension of certain customary usage rights.
International partners are observing this shift with caution. Human rights organizations have repeatedly documented abuses committed in zones under intensified military regimes. The junta’s ability to balance operational effectiveness with respect for civilian populations will be closely scrutinized, particularly by neighboring West African countries and the donors still active within Mali.
Economically, the establishment of these restricted perimeters could also impact artisanal mining concessions and certain gold extraction sites located at the edges of the targeted forests. The government has not yet specified the mechanisms for compensation or reallocation of the affected populations.
