On the morning of December 6, militants from the al-Qaeda-affiliated Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM, designated as a terrorist group and banned in Russia) ambushed a convoy of fuel tankers near the town of Bougouni in southern Mali. This was reported by sources in the conflict zone, citing reports of a renewed blockade of fuel supplies.

The attack came as a month-long lull in jihadist activity, sparked by rumors of a "secret truce" with the Malian government, ended. The agreement reportedly included a prisoner exchange, but it has now collapsed, and JNIM has returned to its "fuel blockade" tactics. Since September, militants have regularly targeted such convoys from Senegal and Côte d'Ivoire, paralyzing the country's oil imports.

Malian authorities previously attempted to escort convoys with army units, but this failed to prevent daily fires of tankers and casualties among drivers and soldiers. The country's economy, dependent on ground deliveries, was on the brink of collapse, with disruptions to transportation and public services.