Mali’s Daily Life Cripples Under Jihadists’ Fuel Blockade

Published: 12 November 2025. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online

In Mali’s capital, Bamako, the familiar hum of car engines and horns has been replaced by the shuffle of feet along dusty streets, as residents push depleted motorcycles through a city paralysed by a severe fuel blockade.

Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), an al-Qaeda-affiliated jihadist militia, has escalated its years-long insurgency to include economic warfare, attacking tankers bringing fuel into Mali. The group has reportedly kidnapped drivers and torched more than 100 fuel trucks, leaving millions of Malians struggling to maintain daily life.

The blockade has forced schools and universities to close, caused food prices to surge, and left hospitals grappling with power cuts. Long queues outside petrol stations have become a defining image of the crisis, with many motorists sleeping at forecourts to secure scarce fuel supplies. Public transport fares have tripled, prompting commuters to walk long distances to work.

“We’re here waiting for fuel, and we’ve been here for more than four days,” says Sidi Djiré, a taxi driver in Bamako. He urges Mali’s military-led government to resolve the crisis quickly, noting that the shortage affects everyone, from vendors to teachers. Similarly, traders report skyrocketing food prices, driven by rising transport costs and dwindling supply of imported goods.

JNIM’s fuel blockade marks a notable escalation from its usual hit-and-run attacks. Mali is landlocked, so fuel must be transported by road from neighbouring countries like Senegal and Ivory Coast. By cutting off these lifelines, JNIM is exerting pressure on the government while expanding its operational reach into the south and west.

Hospitals face critical diesel shortages, affecting emergency services and leaving healthcare workers struggling to commute. At Kalaban Coro Health Centre, staff report difficulties in reporting to shifts due to fuel scarcity. Similarly, commuting challenges for teachers and students have forced temporary school closures across the country.

The junta, which seized power five years ago promising to restore security, has attempted to mitigate the crisis through emergency measures, including army escorts for fuel convoys and signing emergency supply agreements with Russia for refined petroleum and technical support. Despite these efforts, convoys remain vulnerable, and critics argue the government’s response is reactive rather than proactive.

The fuel blockade in Mali illustrates how jihadist groups are evolving their tactics, using economic disruption to amplify their influence and destabilize governance. As millions of Malians continue to face uncertainty in daily life, the situation underscores the broader challenges of maintaining security and basic services amid a persistent insurgency.

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