"Al-Qaeda-linked JNIM blocks fuel deliveries, causing school closures and power outages as military rulers struggle to respond. France has advised French nationals to temporarily leave Mali as soon as possible as an armed group blockade upends daily life in the capital Bamako and other regions of the West African country. The al-Qaeda-linked Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM) has since September been targeting fuel tankers, particularly those coming from Senegal and the Ivory Coast, through which the majority of Mali's imported goods"
"Since back-to-back coups in 2020 and 2021 that led to the end of France's military presence in the country, Mali has been ruled by a military government that is struggling to counter various armed groups, including the JNIM. For several weeks, the security situation has been deteriorating in Mali, including in Bamako, the French Foreign Ministry said in a travel advisory released on Friday."
"French nationals are advised to plan a temporary departure from Mali as soon as possible on the commercial flights still available, it said, adding that travel by land remains inadvisable, as national roads are currently the target of attacks by terrorist groups. On Thursday, ministry spokesman Pascal Confavreux said that France was following the deteriorating security situation in Mali with great attention and genuine concern, but that France's diplomatic presence remains unchanged with the embassy open."
Al-Qaeda-linked Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM) has imposed a fuel blockade since September, targeting tankers from Senegal and the Ivory Coast that carry most imported goods. The blockade has paralysed Mali's economy, causing school closures, power cuts and disruptions to daily life in Bamako. Back-to-back coups in 2020 and 2021 left Mali under a military government that is struggling to counter armed groups including JNIM. France advised its nationals to leave Mali via remaining commercial flights and warned against land travel because national roads are being targeted. The United States, Britain and shipping firm MSC have announced evacuations or halted operations due to deteriorating security.
Read at www.aljazeera.com
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]