Mali, a landlocked nation in West Africa, has been thrust deeper into crisis after jihadi militants imposed a fuel blockade, leaving its population of 25 million grappling with severe shortages and economic turmoil. The blockade, enforced by militants from the al-Qaida-backed Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), has not only stranded hundreds of fuel trucks at the borders with Senegal and Ivory Coast but also led to the closure of schools nationwide and sparked scenes of desperation in the capital, Bamako.
On Sunday, October 26, 2025, Mali’s Education Minister Amadou Sy Savane delivered sobering news: schools across the country would shut for two weeks. The reason? A scarcity of fuel so acute that teachers and staff simply could not get to work. As reported by OkayAfrica and the Associated Press, the blockade has paralyzed public transport, hampered daily life, and forced many workers to stay home—a disruption that strikes at the heart of a country already weathering years of instability and violence.
The origins of the blockade trace back to early September 2025, when JNIM militants announced a ban on fuel imports from Mali’s coastal neighbors. Their move came in response to government efforts earlier in the year to restrict fuel supplies to remote regions, a tactic intended to squeeze militants hiding in the vast Sahel. Instead, the militants turned the tables, using the blockade as a powerful lever against the military junta in Bamako.
For Mali, which relies almost entirely on imported fuel, the impact has been devastating. According to the Associated Press, the blockade has hiked commodity prices and deepened hardship for millions. In Bamako, endless queues snake out from gas stations, with some residents spending nights camped out in hopes of securing a few liters. The sight of exhausted families and empty fuel pumps has become a grim new normal.
“The scarcity of fuel makes it difficult for staff to get to work, as is the case with most other workers,” Education Minister Savane explained during his announcement, as cited by multiple news outlets. The ripple effects are felt everywhere: businesses shutter, markets slow, and the cost of basic goods soars. For a country where nearly half the population lives below the national poverty line, according to the United Nations, these disruptions are more than an inconvenience—they are a threat to survival.
Mali’s military government, which seized power in a 2020 coup promising to restore security and stability, now finds itself under siege on multiple fronts. The junta has tried to counter the blockade by escorting fuel convoys from border areas to Bamako and launching airstrikes against JNIM positions. Yet, as Oluwole Ojewale from the Institute for Security Studies told the Associated Press, the military’s efforts are hampered by a lack of air power and resources. Some trucks have made it through, but others have been ambushed by militants along the way, underscoring the government’s limited reach.
The blockade is more than just an economic weapon; it is a calculated move in a broader campaign to undermine the state. Beverly Ochieng, an analyst at Control Risks Group, explained to the Associated Press that the blockade is “used as a tool to pressure commercial operators and residents to distance themselves from the military authorities, therefore undermining the legitimacy and authority of Mali’s military government.” By targeting transport companies and threatening those who do business with the state, JNIM is sending a clear message: cooperate with the government at your own risk.
JNIM’s tactics are part of a wider pattern of destabilization across the Sahel. The group, which has ties to al-Qaida, is considered the most potent armed faction in the region, according to the U.S.-based Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project. Their attacks have grown deadlier in 2025, often targeting security forces and civilians alike. The militants’ stated goal is to destabilize the governments of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger—countries that have all experienced coups and have expelled French forces in favor of Russian mercenary support in recent years.
Despite the presence of Russian mercenaries and a security pact among the three countries, the crisis has only deepened. The Associated Press notes that some of the attacks in Mali this year have been the deadliest in more than three years, with trends pointing to a deteriorating security situation. The military’s inability to secure key supply routes or protect civilians has fueled frustration and eroded confidence in the junta’s leadership.
For ordinary Malians, the blockade is a daily ordeal. In Bamako, scenes of frustration and fatigue play out at every gas station. “Endless queues have stretched in front of gas stations with some residents spending nights waiting,” the Associated Press reported. The scarcity of fuel has forced many to abandon cars, walk long distances, or simply stay home. The closure of schools is just the latest blow, disrupting education for millions of children and adding to the sense of uncertainty about the future.
Even Mali’s status as one of Africa’s top gold producers offers little comfort. Despite its mineral wealth, the country is ranked the sixth least developed nation in the world. The blockade has exposed just how vulnerable Mali’s economy is to external shocks and internal strife. With hundreds of fuel trucks stranded at the border, businesses struggling, and inflation rising, the outlook is increasingly bleak.
International observers warn that the blockade could have far-reaching consequences. As reported by OkayAfrica, the situation in Mali is part of a broader pattern of instability across West Africa, where coups, contested elections, and militant violence have upended political and economic life in recent years. The closure of schools, the collapse of basic services, and the specter of hunger all point to a deepening humanitarian crisis.
Yet amid the hardship, there are flickers of resilience. The government has vowed to continue escorting fuel convoys and targeting militant strongholds, while civil society groups are calling for dialogue and humanitarian support. But as long as the blockade holds, and as long as militants retain the power to choke off vital supplies, Mali’s path to stability will remain fraught with obstacles.
For now, the people of Mali wait—sometimes overnight, sometimes for days—hoping for relief that remains just out of reach. The fuel blockade, a stark symbol of the country’s fragility, has turned everyday life into a test of endurance, and the coming weeks will reveal whether the government can muster the resolve and resources to break the siege.
