Mali: amidst adversity, Bamako’s puppets bring joy to the streets

As a severe fuel blockade paralyzes Mali’s capital, giant colorful marionettes danced through Bamako’s streets this week in a defiant celebration of resilience, with the annual Rendez-Vous Chez Nous festival determined to bring joy to a city grappling with militant threats and economic collapse.

Despite Al-Qaeda affiliate JNIM’s fuel blockade bringing Bamako to its knees – shutting schools, halting commerce and creating petrol queues -…