Crippling fuel shortages in Mali’s capital, Bamako, have eased after military escorts and an unofficial truce with militants eased weeks-long blockades.
Since September, militants from the Al-Qaeda-linked JNIM group severed fuel supplies to multiple cities, leaving the landlocked country struggling under severe shortages.
Electricity remains scarce in Bamako, with most districts receiving roughly six hours of power per day or even less, residents report.
Petrol station queues, once stretching over two kilometres, have dwindled as supplies gradually return to the capital under heavy security.
“I can’t believe it,” said one motorist. “I only had to wait a few minutes to be served,” reflecting newfound relief.
Traffic in Bamako is returning to normal, although some petrol stations that closed during the blockade have yet to reopen, journalists observed.
Fuel tanker convoys now arrive under army and Russian paramilitary escort, with aerial surveillance ensuring deliveries from Niger and other regions.
Authorities reported 82 escorted tanker trucks, a measure officials say will ensure regular supply despite high operational costs and security challenges.
Some sources say the calm stems from an unofficial truce with militants, negotiated after JNIM released an Emirati hostage for $50 million.
The truce, however, is nearing its expiry, and militants have warned they may intensify attacks as the agreement lapses, raising concerns nationwide.
Outside Bamako, fuel remains scarce in regions under militant influence, with localities in Sikasso, Segou, and Mopti still facing rationing and limited deliveries.
Residents warn that the recovery in Bamako does not reflect the situation across Mali, where electricity and water shortages compound the struggle for daily essentials.
Humanitarian flights have resumed to northern and central regions, but many communities remain cut off, underscoring the fragile stability of the country’s supply networks.