Terrorists Impose Blockade on Léré, Forcing Residents to Flee

Léré -, October 25, 2025 - The town of Léré in Mali’s Timbuktu region has come under a terrorist-imposed blockade, according to a statement issued on October 24 by a spokesperson for the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM). The town, located 70 kilometers from the Mauritanian border, has faced repeated attacks by armed groups since 2012.

The group warned residents that anyone wishing to leave must do so before midnight on October 25, raising fears of a humanitarian crisis. Léré is considered a strategic hub for controlling the border with Mauritania, where terrorists maintain hideouts, and serves as a key transit point for essential goods bound for regions such as Mopti and Timbuktu.

Eyewitnesses report that the blockade is fully enforced, with terrorists issuing death threats and imposing Sharia law, including restrictions on women who do not wear the hijab. Over the course of Saturday, vehicles carrying fleeing residents were seen leaving the town, while those unable to leave remain trapped under tense and dangerous conditions.

The blockade underscores the continuing security challenges in northern Mali, where armed groups increasingly control key towns and disrupt the movement of goods and people, heightening both humanitarian and economic risks in the region.