Bamako: As the midday sun scorches the streets of Bamako, capital of Mali, the usual hustle and bustle has given way to long queues of vehicles stretching for hundreds of meters in front of gas stations. Cars and motorcycles clog the main roads, with exhausted drivers dozing off behind the wheel or simply leaving the vehicles to hold their place in line. Empty jerrycans and plastic bottles litter the roadside, the air blended with gasoline fumes and dust.
According to Namibia Press Agency, the fuel shortage has been ongoing for nearly a month, severely affecting the West African nation. The shortage of gasoline and diesel has disrupted transportation, slowed business activities, and further strained daily life. Fuel sales in Bamako and nearby areas are now rationed, with each vehicle limited to purchasing 10,000 CFA francs (about 17.75 U.S. dollars) of fuel daily. Although the official diesel price is 750 CFA francs per liter, black market prices have soared considerably higher.
The shortage is reportedly linked to Mali's fragile security situation. Since September, the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (GSIM/JNIM) has repeatedly ambushed fuel convoys on major routes leading to Bamako from Senegal and Cote d'Ivoire. These attacks have targeted economic lifelines to weaken the government and disrupt regional trade. Mali's security authorities report that dozens of tanker trucks have been destroyed in these assaults.
The fuel crisis is affecting all sectors of society. The national electricity company has warned of reduced operation times for thermal power plants due to insufficient fuel supplies. In some areas, daily electricity supply has fallen from 19 hours to just six, forcing many factories and offices to scale back or suspend operations.
An executive at Le Matin, a daily newspaper based in Bamako, reported that the printing press is struggling to function due to diesel shortages, leading to reduced publication capabilities. The Hospital of Mali in Bamako has also seen a sharp drop in patient visits as many cannot afford transport. Patient numbers in the ophthalmology department have decreased significantly, affecting scheduled surgeries and follow-up appointments.
The government has ordered a nationwide school closure from Oct. 27 to Nov. 9, with officials considering an extension. Fuel scarcity has also increased the cost of living. In Bamako's Lafiabougou market, prices for essential goods like cooking oil, onions, and tomatoes have risen sharply. Transport costs have doubled or even tripled, complicating the restocking of goods.
In response, the Malian government has launched an "Emergency Fuel Crisis Response Plan," which includes military escorts for fuel convoys, creation of strategic fuel reserves, simplified import procedures, tax relief for energy companies, and priority fuel distribution to hospitals, emergency vehicles, and public transport. The Malian armed forces have intensified security operations nationwide to protect transport routes. On Oct. 26, troops successfully repelled an attack on a fuel convoy in the southern Bougouni region.
Around 200 fuel trucks, escorted by security forces, arrived in Bamako between Oct. 26 and 27, offering a glimmer of hope to residents. Analysts highlight that the crisis underscores Mali's heavy dependence on external fuel supplies and its vulnerability to insecurity. However, recent measures, including convoy escorts, emergency allocations, and strengthened regional cooperation, are showing early signs of easing shortages in the capital and major cities.
Since a military coup in March 2012, Mali has struggled with instability and insurgency. Despite a peace and reconciliation agreement with some northern armed groups in 2015, violence has persisted in the north and has spread toward central and southern regions in recent years.