Weeks into a militant blockade targeting fuel tankers, residents of Bamako are grappling with severe shortages that have brought Mali’s capital to a standstill. Long queues snaked around gas stations on Tuesday as desperate commuters searched for dwindling supplies.
The crisis stems from a blockade imposed in early September by Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), an al-Qaida-affiliated group that has been attacking fuel convoys entering Mali from neighboring Senegal and Ivory Coast. The impact is now being felt across the city, with tempers flaring and tensions rising.
Bakary Coulibaly, who sells fuel from a roadside kiosk, described the scarcity: “Only a few stations still have gas,” he said, as motorcycles and cars jostled for position in chaotic lines. Scuffles broke out at one station as frustration boiled over.
Douga Barry, a motorcycle taxi driver, expressed resilience despite the hardship. “We know we’re at war. Whatever the situation, we’re ready to face it even if it means walking instead of riding,” he said.
Mali, despite its status as one of Africa’s leading gold producers, remains among the world’s least developed nations, with nearly half its population living below the poverty line. The fuel blockade threatens to further destabilize an already fragile economy and undermines the military junta’s promise to restore security since taking power in 2021.
Militant violence has surged in recent months, with JNIM and other extremist groups expanding their reach across the Sahel a vast region stretching from North to West Africa. A recent report from the Malian Petroleum Importers Association revealed that over 100 fuel tankers have been destroyed in attacks.
In response, the Malian army has begun escorting fuel convoys along key routes to Bamako. On Monday, military officials announced they had dismantled JNIM hideouts linked to a recent assault near Kolondiéba, close to the Ivorian border.
As the blockade drags on, the fuel crisis underscores the growing insecurity in Mali and the urgent need for coordinated action to protect vital infrastructure and restore stability.
