Mali Faces Fuel Supply Disruptions as Long Queues Return at Gas Stations

Long queues have returned to fuel stations in Bamako as Mali confronts another wave of diesel shortages.

As our correspondent reports, motorists and motorcycle operators waited for hours at filling stations across several parts of the capital on Tuesday.

According to the country’s oil companies association, the shortage is partly due to diesel supplies being prioritized for the national energy company to address ongoing electricity outages.

Mali, a landlocked country in the Sahel region, relies heavily on fuel imports transported by tanker trucks from neighbouring countries.

Disruptions are also linked to attacks on fuel convoys by insurgent groups. Since September, militants affiliated with Al-Qaeda have reportedly targeted fuel tankers and imposed blockades on key transport routes leading into Bamako.

These attacks are believed to be part of broader efforts by armed groups to disrupt economic activity and weaken supply chains across the country.