France has advised its citizens residing in Mali to depart the country as soon as possible, citing an ongoing fuel blockade by Islamist insurgents and deteriorating security conditions. The French foreign ministry recommended using available commercial flights and cautioned against overland travel.
The blockade, which has been active for two months, has significantly disrupted daily life in Mali's capital, Bamako, and other areas. It is attributed to Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), an al-Qaeda-affiliated group, which has targeted fuel tankers on major highways. As a landlocked nation, Mali relies entirely on road transport for fuel supplies from neighboring countries like Senegal and Ivory Coast.
In response to the crisis, MSC, a prominent global shipping company, announced the suspension of its operations in Mali. Similarly, the US embassy in Bamako advised non-essential diplomatic staff and their families to leave last month, noting that fuel shortages were impacting electricity supply and could unpredictably affect overall security.
Mali is currently governed by a military junta led by General Assimi Goïta, who assumed power following a 2020 coup. The junta initially gained support by pledging to address the long-standing security crisis, which began with a separatist rebellion by ethnic Tuaregs in the north and subsequently escalated due to Islamist militant activity. International forces, including a UN peacekeeping mission and French troops, deployed in 2013 to counter the insurgency. However, both have withdrawn since the junta took control, with the military government reportedly engaging Russian mercenaries for security assistance. Despite these measures, the jihadist insurgency persists, and substantial areas in the northern and eastern regions of Mali remain outside government control.