Western nations have begun moves to evacuate their citizens from Mali as a deepening fuel blockade threatens to paralyse the country, ignite public anger, and weaken the ruling military junta’s grip on power.
The United States on Thursday ordered non-essential embassy staff and family members to leave the country, joining Germany, Italy, and other Western governments that have earlier issued similar directives amid growing instability in the Sahel state.
Mali has been struggling with an unprecedented fuel shortage after the al-Qaeda-linked group Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) blocked key fuel supply routes since early September.
The militants have attacked fuel convoys and seized tankers in retaliation for the junta’s decision to ban fuel sales in rural areas a move authorities said was meant to cut off extremist supply channels.
READ ALSO: Fuel Shortage Forces Mali to Shut Down Schools Nationwide
The crisis has triggered chaos across the landlocked nation. Petrol prices have soared by 500 percent, while long queues snake around fuel stations in Bamako and other cities. Tempers are rising as military checkpoints tighten distribution, with soldiers themselves now restricted to only three fuel stations in the capital and three in Kati.
Officials say the measure is meant to prevent clashes at overcrowded fuel depots and prioritise military mobility. But critics argue it underscores how fragile the junta’s control has become.
The fuel crisis has forced schools and universities to shut down for two weeks and is crippling the agricultural harvest season. Meanwhile, the country’s already fragile power grid has plunged deeper into crisis as the national utility, Énergie du Mali, has slashed electricity supply from 19 hours to barely six hours a day, worsening economic pain.
“This blockade is intended to suffocate the economy and force concessions from Bamako,” analysts warned, describing it as part of JNIM’s strategy to undermine the junta’s authority and public confidence.
READ ALSO: U.S. Orders Citizens to Leave Mali as Jihadi Blockade Deepens Fuel, Security Crisis
For millions of Malians, life has become a struggle for fuel, food, and electricity. And with the government stretched thin between economic hardship and mounting security threats, the crisis risks pushing the country into deeper unrest.
Esther Ososanya is an investigative journalist with Pinnacle Daily, reporting across health, business, environment, metro, Fct and crime. Known for her bold, empathetic storytelling, she uncovers hidden truths, challenges broken systems, and gives voice to overlooked Nigerians. Her work drives national conversations and demands accountability one powerful story at a time.
