U.S. Embassy Urges Citizens to Leave Mali Amid Fuel Blockade Crisis

The United States Embassy in Mali has issued an urgent advisory calling on all American citizens to “depart immediately” from the country, citing a worsening fuel blockade and growing security concerns caused by jihadist groups.

According to the embassy, the militant group Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) has imposed a blockade on fuel supplies across Mali, crippling transportation, halting economic activities, and sparking widespread shortages. The U.S. warned that conditions have deteriorated so rapidly that it can no longer guarantee assistance to citizens outside the capital, Bamako.

“The security environment in Mali is unpredictable, and the ongoing fuel shortage has made mobility and access to basic resources increasingly difficult,” the advisory stated. “U.S. citizens should depart immediately using available commercial options.”

The blockade, enforced by militants who control parts of northern and central Mali has brought the country to a standstill. Fuel trucks from neighboring nations have been prevented from entering the country, leading to long queues at gas stations and forcing the temporary closure of schools and universities.

Local reports indicate that hospitals and essential services are also facing disruptions due to a lack of fuel to power generators. The Malian government, which has been under military rule since 2021, has not yet announced a clear plan to resolve the crisis.

The U.S. State Department has maintained Mali’s travel advisory at Level 4 – Do Not Travel, warning of risks related to terrorism, kidnapping, and civil unrest. Other Western missions are reportedly monitoring the situation closely as the blockade tightens its grip on the country’s fragile economy.

Mali’s ongoing instability highlights the growing reach of jihadist groups in the Sahel region, where they increasingly use economic disruption, such as fuel and food blockades as leverage against military-led governments.