Al Qaeda affiliate Jamaat Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin, or JNIM, announced the imposition of a "total blockade" of Bamako amid widespread panic in the Malian capital about the alleged entrance of jihadists in parts of the city, Jeune Afrique reported on April 28. This comes after loud explosions were reported near Bamako's Modibo Keita International Airport on the night of April 27-28, which open source intelligence reports said were followed by gunfire and several aerial strikes, although this remains unconfirmed.