The president of Senegal’s National Association of Drivers and Transporters, Dame Lô, has urged Senegalese transporters traveling to Mali to exercise extreme caution following the recent kidnapping of six truck drivers.

The drivers were abducted on Thursday by armed groups but released the following day, according to the Union of Truck Drivers of Senegal. The incident has reignited concerns over insecurity on the Mali–Senegal trade corridor, a vital route for commerce between the two countries.

Dame Lô admitted the abductions sparked deep anxiety within the transport sector. He called on drivers to strictly follow safety rules in host countries while appealing to the Senegalese government to intensify dialogue with Malian authorities.

Although the attack was attributed to jihadist groups, the transport leader emphasized stronger cooperation with Bamako is needed to guarantee the safety of Senegalese drivers and safeguard regional trade.