Mali’s military leader, General Assimi Goita, addressed the country’s severe fuel crisis for the first time on Monday. The crisis was directly caused by a militant group’s blockade on fuel tankers entering the landlocked West African nation.
General Goita spoke candidly about the danger posed by the situation. “During the escort of the fuel tanker convoy, people are dying; there are ambushes on the roads,” he said. He added a tragic detail: “Tankers are catching fire with people inside them, who are burning to death.”
Goita made these comments while attending a meeting with Bougouni regional authorities during a trip to inaugurate a new lithium mine in the country’s south. Until now, Malian officials had remained largely silent about the blockade.
Militant Ban Triggers Economic Squeeze
The blockade was imposed by a militant organization linked to a major global extremist network. Militants from this group declared a ban on fuel imports from neighboring countries into Mali in early September.
This action was a direct response to a government measure from earlier this year. Authorities had been restricting fuel supplies to remote areas in an effort to weaken the militants in their hideouts.
The blockade has severely strained Mali’s already fragile economy. Hundreds of fuel transport trucks are now stranded at the border. Mali relies heavily on fuel imports arriving from neighboring Senegal and the Ivory Coast.
Military Escorts and Civilian Impact
Mali’s military has attempted to provide escorts for fuel trucks traveling from border areas to the capital, Bamako. Simultaneously, they have been conducting airstrikes targeting militant strongholds. While some trucks have successfully reached the capital, others have been intercepted and attacked by militants.
In his public address, General Goita urged Malians to reduce their daily travel. He called on citizens to help alleviate the severe impact of the fuel shortage.
In the capital city of Bamako, long queues have formed at gasoline stations. Some residents are reportedly spending entire nights waiting to purchase fuel. The crisis has forced the government to announce school closures.
Foreign embassies have advised their citizens to evacuate the country. Furthermore, residents are enduring hours-long power cuts. The ongoing fuel blockade represents a major setback for the military government.
The militant organization responsible is one of several armed groups operating in the Sahel. This vast strip of semi-arid desert stretches across West Africa, and insurgency in the region is spreading rapidly.
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