Residents of Mali’s capital, Bamako, are struggling with severe fuel shortages as militants from Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) continue to block tanker convoys entering the city.
Long queues have formed at the few stations still selling fuel, with tempers flaring as motorists scramble for supplies.
Locals said the blockade, imposed in early September by the al-Qaida-linked group, has crippled transportation and daily life.
Gas vendor Bakary Coulibaly reportedly lamented the scarcity, saying only a handful of stations still had fuel, while motorcycle taxi operator Douga Barry expressed determination to endure the hardship for the nation’s sake.
According to the Malian Petroleum Importers Association, over 100 tanker trucks have been destroyed by JNIM fighters in recent weeks.
The army stated on Monday that it had launched operations to dismantle militant hideouts following an attack on a convoy near the Ivorian border, while also beginning to escort fuel trucks along key supply routes to Bamako.