Malian Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop met with the diplomatic and consular corps in Bamako on Wednesday to provide an update on the country’s worsening security situation and the severe difficulties in supplying hydrocarbons.
These issues stem largely from jihadist attacks targeting fuel tanker truck convoys. The briefing comes after several Western embassies, including those of the United States, Italy, the UK, and Germany, recently advised their citizens to leave Mali or avoid non-essential travel due to deteriorating road safety.
Minister Diop informed the embassy representatives about the measures being implemented to secure the crucial logistical corridors that link Mali to the coastal ports of Abidjan, Dakar, and Conakry.
He stated that the Malian Armed Forces (FAMa), in coordination with member countries of the Confederation of Sahel States (CSA), are continuing military operations to escort fuel shipments and neutralize armed groups operating along these transit routes.
The Minister specifically noted a change in the modus operandi of groups affiliated with JNIM, which are now focusing their attacks on economic infrastructure and commercial road convoys to destabilize the economy.
Since September, the disruption of hydrocarbon transport from neighboring countries has led to widespread stock shortages in depots, impacting availability across Malian cities. This has resulted in reduced operating hours for schools and businesses and slowdowns in both urban and intercity transport.
Mali, which relies almost entirely on road transport for its petroleum products, is highly vulnerable to disruptions along the key Dakar–Kayes–Bamako, Abidjan–Sikasso-Bamako, and Conakry-Kouremale–Bamako corridors.
The heads of diplomatic missions welcomed the briefing, noting that it helped clarify the volatile situation amid a climate of unverified information. They expressed support for efforts to stabilize the supply chain and reaffirmed their commitment to cooperating on security challenges.
Minister Diop concluded by assuring the corps that the protection of the population and foreign nationals remains a sovereign responsibility of the Malian authorities.
MD/ac/fss/abj/APA