Hemmed in by a jihadist blockade of the Malian capital, Muslims in Bamako have been forced to spend Eid away from their families this year.
Originally from the central city of Mopti, Alpha Amadou, 40, has had to give up his usual journey home for the major holiday, known locally as Tabaski.
“For the first time in 30 years living in Bamako, I’ll be celebrating Eid here this year,” he told AFP.
Since late April, fighters from Al-Qaeda’s Sahel branch have imposed a road blockade on the main routes into Bamako, torching dozens of buses and freight trucks.
Though the blockade is only partial, images of charred vehicles have deterred many transport services from operating and travellers from heading back to their villages.
In Mali, Tabaski goes far beyond religion. It is a major social tradition, one of the few times when families, often scattered by work for months, come together.
But in Bamako’s bus stations, the usual pre-holiday rush has given way to an eerie calm. Alongside insecurity, fuel shortages have also hit the transport sector.