Eastern Senegal is on edge. In Kidira, the last town before the Malian border, truck drivers are sounding the alarm after a series of violent assaults by jihadist groups operating just across the frontier.
Border Under Pressure
Security has been ramped up in Kidira following reports that jihadists from nearby Malian towns have targeted Senegalese drivers. The Falémé River, which marks the natural boundary between the two countries, now feels less like a barrier and more like a gateway for danger.
A Driver’s Nightmare
Birane Ndiaye, a lorry driver, vividly recalls the attack he endured on September 4—Maouloud, the day celebrating the Prophet Mohammed’s birth. Near Ségala, 60km from Kayes, he was ambushed by around ten armed men while transporting food supplies. His experience is part of a growing pattern of cross-border violence.
Regional Spillover
The assaults highlight the porous nature of the Senegal-Mali border and the growing threat of jihadist movements spilling into Senegalese territory. For truckers and traders, the road to Bamako is increasingly perilous, and for the government, the pressure to secure the eastern frontier is mounting.
As tensions rise, the question remains: can Senegal shield its borders from the instability next door?