A convoy of fuel tankers was torched in western Mali on Thursday in a deadly attack authorities blamed on jihadist militants.
The assault struck a key road linking the Senegalese border to the regional hub of Kayes, destroying dozens of vehicles.
Local officials said the attack marked a sharp escalation in a fuel blockade that had eased in recent weeks.
Jihadists from the Al-Qaeda-linked Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims claimed an ambush on Malian troops near the area.
In a statement, the group did not directly mention the destruction of fuel tankers along the strategic supply route.
Since September, the group has targeted fuel convoys to choke supplies and suffocate Mali’s fragile, landlocked economy.
The latest attack was the largest of its kind since early December, after weeks of declining violence.
By enforcing blockades on several cities, the militants previously disrupted economic life, including in the capital, Bamako.
Fuel supplies in Bamako have improved since last month, offering brief relief and signs of economic recovery.
A local official said three Malian soldiers were killed, while four attackers also died during Thursday’s violence.
Residents and officials estimated that dozens of tankers were set ablaze, with exact figures still being verified.
A petroleum office official said the attack was serious but insisted fuel distribution and availability remained unaffected.
Across the border in Senegal, transport unions urged drivers to halt journeys as security conditions deteriorated.
Some drivers, however, have already resumed travel into Mali despite lingering risks along the route.
Security sources said military escorts were suspended on the Senegal route, with protection prioritised elsewhere.
Authorities had aimed to stockpile fuel ahead of Ramadan, believing new convoy measures secured the supply chain.
Mali has faced a deepening security crisis since 2012, driven by jihadist groups and organised criminal networks.
The ruling military junta, which seized power in 2020 and 2021, has struggled to contain the insurgency.
In recent months, militants have intensified attacks on military bases, industrial sites, and foreign workers.
Kidnappings for ransom have become a key funding source, further entrenching violence across the country.