Mali’s security forces have intensified escort operations for fuel and civilian convoys following a wave of militant attacks on vital supply routes, according to state media reports on Wednesday. The measures come after al-Qaida-linked fighters targeted dozens of fuel trucks heading toward the capital, Bamako, threatening to deepen the country’s economic woes.
State television announced that Malian troops provided protection for at least 40 passenger buses in the Torodo area, located in the southwestern region of the country. In addition, the army escorted over 30 fuel tankers, lorries, and civilian vehicles arriving from Senegal earlier in the week. These security operations highlight the growing instability along trade corridors that are crucial for the country’s survival.
Local trade unions reported that in recent days, militants have burned and destroyed around 100 fuel trucks, crippling supplies to Bamako and leaving drivers and their cargo vulnerable. The militant group Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), an al-Qaida affiliate, has claimed responsibility for the attacks. Two weeks ago, JNIM declared a ban on fuel imports from Mali’s neighbors, an announcement that experts warn could have devastating consequences for both the fragile economy and the ruling military government.
“The army needs now to allocate more resources to the south. That might also be the goal of the Jihadists,” said Ulf Laessing, Head of the Sahel Program at the Konrad Adenauer Foundation. He explained that the sudden shift of militant operations toward Mali’s south, which had largely been spared from heavy violence in the past, could stretch government forces thin.
The attacks not only highlight the militants’ tactical evolution but also create fear among ordinary citizens. “It creates a psychological moment. People never know when they might strike,” Laessing added.
Analysts warn that Mali’s growing reliance on fuel convoys escorted by the military underscores the vulnerability of its supply chains. With trade routes under siege, fuel shortages could drive up prices, disrupt transportation, and worsen living conditions for millions of Malians already facing insecurity and poverty.
The crisis places additional pressure on the military junta in Bamako, which seized power in 2021 promising stability but has since struggled to contain jihadist insurgencies. As the conflict shifts southward, many fear the violence could spread closer to urban centers, posing new threats to governance, commerce, and civilian life.
