In Bamako, the usual hum of traffic has been replaced by the shuffle of feet as residents push motorcycles through dusty streets. A fuel blockade, ongoing for over two months, has disrupted transportation, commerce, and daily routines across Mali.
The shortages are linked to attacks by Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), an al-Qaeda-affiliated jihadist group. Militants have targeted fuel tankers entering Mali, destroying trucks and kidnapping drivers. More than 100 fuel trucks have been affected, intensifying an insurgency that has already destabilized much of the country.
The blockade has forced schools and universities to close temporarily, hospitals to ration electricity, and food prices to spike. Public transport fares have tripled in some areas, prompting commuters to walk long distances. Long queues at petrol stations have become a common sight, and many drivers now sleep at forecourts hoping to secure fuel.
The government has responded with emergency measures, including military escorts for fuel convoys and an emergency fuel supply agreement with Russia. However, these efforts have been only partially successful, as convoys remain vulnerable to attack.
Mali’s landlocked geography exacerbates the problem, as fuel must be transported overland from neighboring countries like Senegal and Ivory Coast. The blockade represents not only a logistical challenge but a strategic expansion of JNIM’s insurgency, targeting critical supply routes and undermining the government’s authority.
Hospitals are experiencing critical shortages of diesel for generators, affecting emergency services and staff commuting. Teachers and students have faced disruptions, with rural areas particularly affected as travel to schools remains difficult.
The crisis has also highlighted the fragile position of Colonel Assimi Goïta’s military-led government. While the junta portrays itself as a victim of jihadist attacks, public confidence has been shaken by its inability to prevent or rapidly respond to the blockade. The situation has increased Mali’s reliance on Russia, especially after the departure of French and UN troops, potentially complicating relations with Western countries.
For ordinary Malians, the crisis is immediate and personal. Skyrocketing food prices, restricted transportation, and power shortages are daily challenges, with growing concerns that prolonged disruptions could exacerbate crime and insecurity across the capital and beyond.
