Malian Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop held a telephone conversation with the UK Minister of State for African Development,
The Rt Hon. Baroness Chapman. The direct diplomatic exchange took place amid escalating security tensions and severe logistical disruptions impacting the country’s hydrocarbon supply.
The call came shortly after the United Kingdom, alongside several allies (including the U.S., France, and Germany), updated its travel advisories, urging citizens to leave Mali or avoid non-essential travel. These advisories cited difficulties with road access, the strain on national fuel stocks, and an evolving security situation. The conversation served to provide the UK government with updated, factual information directly from Bamako.
Minister Diop provided Baroness Chapman with an assessment of the security situation and the difficulties in obtaining fuel. He highlighted the extensive efforts undertaken by the government to ensure the delivery of hydrocarbons while national demand remains high.
Diop specifically detailed the stabilization measures: Supply Security: Operations by national forces are underway to secure strategic corridors used for transporting essential goods, including fuel convoys. Distribution Control: Measures to regulate and secure import and distribution channels are being implemented to maintain the continuity of essential services and ensure a regular flow of fuel to public and private facilities.
The Minister also addressed the issue of media reports describing widespread shortages, affirming that authorities maintain up-to-date records and reports for each area. He explained that the government is closely monitoring the daily evolution of fuel supplies through a system combining administrative oversight, logistical control, and consultation with economic operators.
Baroness Chapman expressed the United Kingdom’s solidarity with Mali and acknowledged the direct information provided on the supply situation and stabilization efforts. She welcomed the transparency, reaffirming the UK’s interest in maintaining a regular dialogue.
Chapman stressed the importance of relying on official sources for information, noting that the status of travel advisories is subject to change based on the security situation and mobility conditions within the country.
Both officials emphasized the commitment to continuing diplomatic relations built on respect for exchanges between sovereign states. Diop specifically commended the UK’s approach of engaging directly with national authorities to obtain factual information on the ground, underscoring the value of direct communication in times of crisis.
MD/Sf/fss/abj/APA