In Mali, the crisis is getting worse. Beyond the constant threat of violence, communities now face a fuel blockade imposed by jihadist groups.
One such group, an al-Qaeda affiliate called JNIM, recently released a video showing an ambush on a fuel convoy protected by Malian military forces near Koulikoro. The militants detail the date and origin—Dakar, Senegal—and parade a captured fuel truck as a trophy.
The U.S. Embassy in Bamako has urged American citizens to leave the country as soon as possible, citing worsening security and economic conditions. It’s the second such warning in just ten days. Most diplomatic communiqués now warn of looming food shortages and malnutrition.
Schools Shuttered in Bamako
Assane Diagne, a Senegalese trader who’s run a business in Bamako for eight years, says daily life is grinding to a halt. “Every day, long lines of motorcycle and car drivers crowd around gas stations. Fights are breaking out—fuel is scarce and everyone wants it,” Diagne reports.
Social disruptions are mounting. Mali’s ministries of education have suspended classes nationwide from October 27 through November 9 due to fuel shortages, which have made it nearly impossible for students and teachers to get to school. Classes are set to resume on November 10, and officials are trying to overhaul the academic calendar to make up for lost time. Meanwhile, authorities insist they are working to restore fuel supplies.
Dakar-Bamako Route Under Fire
Haulage between Dakar and Bamako has become a high-risk venture. Alfouseyni Keita, a transporter on this route, says attacks on fuel trucks are becoming routine. “We’re constantly under threat—vehicles carrying fuel are prime targets, and sometimes gunmen burn the trucks to the ground,” he says. “Every truck lost is a fortune up in smoke. Worst of all, these vehicles carry fuel, so fires put lives at risk. People have died—losing not just property, but lives and the fuel that keeps the country running.”
Keita admits that drivers live in constant fear. “We have no weapons, no protection. We’re exposed to robbery and shakedowns every day,” he laments. “I run my own business, so I face this threat personally, every single day.”
Senegal Feeling the Strain
Djiby Gaye, a leader in Senegal’s transport sector, notes that the crisis is also hitting Senegalese drivers. “Several Senegalese truckers have recently been held up by armed men in northern Mali. There’s real worry that this will keep happening,” says Gaye. He now advises his drivers to stay alert and refuel only in Dakar if possible.
Economist Ousmane Bèye predicts more economic fallout. “Trucking will be disrupted, dealing a blow to the ports in Dakar and Bamako that handle commercial shipments. The transport sector is in jeopardy; people are afraid to travel at all because of security threats.”
