Fuel Blockade Causes Economic Standstill in Mali's Capital

Sat Oct 11 2025 00:36:10 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

A fuel blockade imposed by jihadist militants in Mali has led to long queues at petrol stations and a significant downturn in business, affecting the livelihood of citizens in Bamako and beyond.

In Bamako, Mali's capital, a fuel blockade initiated by al-Qaeda affiliates has resulted in major disruptions to local businesses and severe fuel shortages. The blockade has exacerbated price hikes and forced lengthy waits at petrol stations as the military government struggles to address the crisis. The incident highlights ongoing security challenges as jihadist militants extend their influence in the region.

Long queues have been snaking around petrol stations in Mali's capital a month after militants from an al-Qaeda affiliate imposed a fuel blockade by attacking tankers on major highways.

Our business is at a standstill, one motorbike taxi driver told the BBC, as many others pushed their vehicles to join the petrol lines amidst chaotic scenes in Bamako.

Some of the garages forced to shut last week, paralyzing the city, have now reopened after more than 300 petrol tankers arrived under army escort from Ivory Coast on Tuesday.

The military government has assured residents it is only a temporary issue, but there are fears the new stock will quickly run out - as others complain about price hikes.

Other cities and areas have also been suffering from such shortages, power cuts and fuel inflation for several weeks. My business is dying, a vendor in the central town of Mopti told the AFP news agency about her problems keeping fish refrigerated.

Mali is landlocked, so all fuel supplies are brought into the country by road from neighbors such as Senegal and Ivory Coast.

The junta had popular support when it seized power five years ago, promising to deal with the long-running security crisis prompted by a separatist rebellion in the north by ethnic Tuaregs, which was then hijacked by Islamist militants.

But the jihadist insurgency has continued, making much of the north and east of the country ungovernable.

The latest blockade by al-Qaeda linked Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) - which has seen lorries ambushed, some set alight and drivers kidnapped - indicates the geographic expansion of its insurgency as its fighters target highways linking Mali to its neighbors to the west and south.

Images widely shared on social media highlight the rowdy lines at petrol stations in Bamako, with people waiting for hours. Community radio station Nostalgie reported that fuel prices in parts of Bamako have increased by more than 200%.

Following a crisis meeting chaired by Prime Minister Abdoulaye Maïga on Tuesday, the deputy director general of commerce said that an action plan had been adopted aiming to ensure state-capped prices were adhered to at garages.

The situation is also reportedly exacerbating power cuts in Bamako. An official from the state-owned electricity firm stated that the supply had been reduced to just six hours a day in some areas, down from the usual 19 hours.

There have also been reports that Malian officials are engaged in discreet talks with the militants to lift the blockade.

According to reports, the blockade began due to a ban on the sale of fuel at locations other than service stations in rural areas - a measure intended to cut the jihadists' supplies.