Overview
- United States and United Kingdom withdrew non‑essential embassy staff and urged citizens to leave, with Italy, Germany, Canada and Australia issuing similar departure advisories.
- Al‑Qaeda‑linked JNIM has enforced a fuel blockade since September, attacking tankers on corridors from Senegal and Côte d’Ivoire and stepping up operations to isolate the capital.
- Bamako faces long fuel lines, widespread power cuts and a partial shutdown of daily life, with schools suspended for two weeks and a tentative reopening set for November 9.
- Malian authorities are escorting supply convoys and imposing delivery quotas, and local reports described a large, army‑escorted fuel convoy reaching the capital, yet shortages persist.
- JNIM publicly vowed to stop fuel deliveries entirely, and analysts say the crisis exposes Mali’s weakened state capacity and growing isolation since the 2020–2021 coups.