A critical lack of fuel, triggered by extremist blockades on essential transport routes, is deepening the humanitarian catastrophe in Mali. This shortage is disrupting the daily existence of citizens and halting aid operations in a nation already struggling with widespread hunger and persistent violence.
International aid monitors report that the scarcity of petroleum products has significantly hindered relief efforts across central and southern districts, including Ségou, San, Koutiala, Mopti, and Bandiagara. These regions serve as vital links between the capital, Bamako, and the volatile northern territories where insecurity is rampant.
Many humanitarian organizations have been forced to scale back their field activities. Mobile health clinics are now restricted to a narrow ten-kilometer radius around their operational hubs. Furthermore, frequent robberies, illegal checkpoints, and movement constraints have led to the temporary cessation of several vital programs.
Since September, the Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (GSIM), a group linked to Al-Qaeda, has been obstructing fuel imports from Sénégal and Côte d’Ivoire. These neighboring countries are the primary transit points for goods entering landlocked Mali. The resulting blockade has reached Bamako and most other provinces, sparking a combined energy and food emergency.
The isolation of Léré
In the northwestern region of Tombouctou, the town of Léré, situated near the border with Mauritanie, has been under strict access limitations imposed by armed factions since late October.
These new restrictions have forced residents to flee toward safer territories. Reports indicate that except for those already stationed within the town, no external humanitarian teams or organizations can reach the community. This isolation is part of a broader trend; approximately 50 access-related incidents were documented recently, marking a 13% rise from previous months. Landmines and improvised explosives remain the deadliest threats, with dozens of cases reported. Additionally, aid workers have faced direct violence, including kidnappings in Ségou and Gao.
Tragedy also struck in Douentza, where two aid workers perished after a boat capsized on the Niger River near Kagnimé. Such incidents, combined with the fuel crisis and physical obstacles, continue to jeopardize the safety of personnel and slow down life-saving interventions in a highly volatile environment.
A climate of political repression
This humanitarian decline is unfolding against a backdrop of increasing political tension. Since the 2020 coup, General Assimi Goïta has tightened his grip on the state, indefinitely postponing elections and dissolving all political parties in early 2025. New legislation even allows for the extension of his leadership until the country is deemed “pacified.”
United Nations human rights officials have expressed grave concern over the lack of democratic prospects and the use of the legal system to silence critics. High-profile arrests, such as that of former Prime Minister Moussa Mara, highlight the crackdown on dissent. Meanwhile, the conflict continues to escalate as GSIM and Daech affiliates launch attacks across the north and center, particularly near the borders with Burkina Faso and Niger.
The toll on civilians is staggering. There are reports of hundreds of extrajudicial killings, forced disappearances, and arbitrary detentions carried out by various parties to the conflict. Currently, 6.4 million people in Mali require assistance, including 3.5 million children. The country is also hosting over 400,000 internally displaced persons and 335,000 refugees. Mali now ranks among the six most severe food crises globally, alongside nations like Haiti, Palestine, and Sudan.
Rising numbers of Burkinabé refugees
In the Koro district, near the Burkina Faso border, the humanitarian situation is further strained by a massive influx of people seeking safety. Since April, nearly 50,000 Burkinabé refugees have arrived, effectively doubling the local refugee population.
This surge has overwhelmed local resources. To manage the crisis, the UNHCR established a new field office in Koro in mid-October to better coordinate the emergency response. Today, Mali provides shelter to more than 150,000 refugees from Burkina Faso and Niger, all of whom are escaping the crossfire of jihadist attacks and military counter-operations.
