On Tuesday, October 28, the United States issued a warning to its citizens to immediately take commercial flights out of Mali. The Malian government is facing increasingly intense armed conflicts with insurgents, who are affiliated with terrorist organizations and are implementing a fuel import blockade in this West African landlocked country.
Since September, the “Support for Islam and Muslims Organization” (JNIM), which is affiliated with the Al-Qaeda group, has been targeting oil tankers as attack targets, especially those coming from Senegal and Ivory Coast, where most goods imported to Mali are transited through. Despite military escorts from the Malian army, several trucks have been set on fire, resulting in the deaths or kidnappings of drivers and soldiers in ambushes.
Due to fuel shortages, the Malian government ordered all schools and universities nationwide to close for two weeks on Sunday.
The U.S. Embassy in Mali stated in a press release: “Mali continues to face challenges in infrastructure, including ongoing disruptions in gasoline and diesel supplies, closure of public institutions such as schools and universities nationwide, as well as continuous armed conflicts between the Malian government and terrorist groups in the surrounding areas of Bamako, which increases the unpredictability of Mali’s security situation.”
Analysts suggest that the fuel blockade is part of armed groups’ pressure tactics on the Malian military government, aimed at cutting off the country’s economic lifeline.
The Embassy stated that the Bamako airport remains open and advised American citizens to depart the country by commercial flights and avoid traveling to neighboring countries by land due to the risk of “terrorist attacks along the national highways.”
For American citizens choosing to stay in Mali, the Embassy recommended developing emergency plans, including preparations for long-term on-site sheltering. The Embassy is unable to provide assistance to U.S. citizens outside the capital.
Last week, the U.S. State Department, citing security risks, authorized the non-emergency evacuation of U.S. government personnel and their families from Mali.
The U.S. travel advisory level for Mali is at its highest level 4, which is “Do not travel.”