Local authorities in Koutiala, southern Mali, convened an emergency meeting of the Regional Committee for Crisis and Disaster Monitoring and Management on Monday to tackle a severe fuel shortage that is disrupting the daily lives of residents.
Chaired by the governorate’s Financial Affairs Advisor, the meeting included representatives from the Defense and Security Forces (FDS), the Regional Directorate of Trade and Competition (DRCC), and local elected officials.
The primary focus of discussions was managing the hydrocarbon crisis and ensuring the region’s supply of basic necessities. Following the meeting, the Committee issued a key recommendation: strengthen security for oil operators with import licenses to guarantee smoother and safer fuel distribution.
A joint mission comprising DRCC and police personnel was dispatched on Tuesday to inspect gas stations and assess current stock levels. The DRCC reports that, despite the fuel pressures, Koutiala’s markets are not yet experiencing a shortage of basic foodstuffs, and prices remain stable for the time being.
However, the city’s fuel reserves are critically low. Koutiala recently received only six tankers—five of gasoline and one of diesel—a volume deemed largely insufficient against a monthly need estimated at around fifteen tankers. Alarmingly, the Minister Delegate for Education and Health stressed that no reserves were available at the beginning of the week.
The Committee reaffirmed its commitment to closely monitoring the situation and coordinating efforts across all relevant departments to prevent a prolonged supply disruption.