Malian authorities have launched a major crackdown on fuel trafficking and illegal resale operations in the capital, Bamako, as the country continues to grapple with a severe fuel shortage.
According to the General Directorate of the National Police, multiple coordinated raids were carried out between October 30 and November 1 across several districts, including Attbougou, Yirimadio, Souleymanebougou, Sogoniko, and Kalaban Coro.
In Yirimadio, four suspects were arrested for the illegal sale of about 45,000 liters of diesel, while in Attbougou, a 45-year-old man was detained for siphoning gasoline intended for resale.
Additional operations led to the seizure of more than 7,000 liters of fuel, along with jerrycans, barrels, and other storage equipment.
Police Chief Superintendent Youssouf Koné, who is overseeing the operations, said the illicit trade costs the Malian state billions of CFA francs each year and worsens the ongoing energy crisis.
Those arrested face charges of fraud, speculation, and embezzlement of petroleum products, and have been handed over to judicial authorities.
Mali, which relies on imports for over 90 percent of its fuel needs, has been hit by a deepening supply crisis since mid-September.
Authorities cite logistical bottlenecks along key transport corridors from Abidjan, Dakar, and Conakry, combined with hoarding and speculation, as the main drivers behind the shortages. The resulting scarcity has led to long queues at filling stations and prices reportedly soaring to ten times the official rate on the black market in Bamako.
Officials have also warned of the safety hazards linked to illegal storage sites located in residential areas and urged citizens to report any suspicious activity.
