Mali’s armed forces have announced new measures restricting fuel access for military personnel to six designated service stations in Bamako and Kati, as the country grapples with severe fuel shortages caused by insurgent blockades.
The decision follows reports of soldiers joining civilian queues at gas stations, adding to growing tensions over the ongoing scarcity. In a statement issued this week, the General Staff of the Armed Forces said the move aims to streamline distribution and ensure operational efficiency for the defense and security forces.
The military leadership emphasized that any personnel attempting to refuel at non-designated stations will have to queue alongside civilians and will not receive priority treatment.
The measure comes amid one of Mali’s most acute energy crises in years. Since early September, the al-Qaeda-linked group Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) has blocked hydrocarbon imports and targeted convoys bringing fuel from Senegal and Ivory Coast, land routes on which the landlocked nation depends heavily.
Authorities have warned that the shortages are affecting transportation, education, and health services. The General Staff concluded its statement by calling on commanders and service directors to strictly enforce the new rules.
