Pénurie de carburant au Mali après un mois de blocus jihadiste
In Mali, every entry into Bamako of tanker trucks escorted by the army is now an exploit, a consequence of a month-long jihadist blockade on fuel imported from neighboring countries, the shortage of which is beginning to seriously disrupt this landlocked Sahelian country.
Since September, the Al-Qaeda-affiliated Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM) has been targeting fuel tankers coming from Senegal and Ivory Coast, where most of Mali's imported goods pass through.
According to the JNIM, this was in retaliation for the Malian authorities' ban on the sale of fuel outside of service stations in rural areas, where fuel is transported in jerrycans for later sale. The measure was intended to dry up the jihadists' supply chain, according to the authorities.
Despite escorts from the Malian army, several trucks were set on fire, and drivers and soldiers were killed or kidnapped in jihadist ambushes.
JNIM "is thus seeking to suffocate (the Malian capital) Bamako by cutting off its logistical arteries," analyzed the Dakar-based think tank Timbuktu Institute at the end of September.
- Safety stock "exhausted" -
After a month of jihadist blockade, the National Office of Petroleum Products' (ONAP) security stock, which is supposed to cover three days of national consumption, is now "exhausted," as it has already been injected into the distribution network, the organization told AFP.
"Last week, around ten tankers burned on the road to Côte d'Ivoire. This had a huge impact on our forecasts. To date, we have no visibility on when the shortage will end and whether the country will be adequately supplied," ONAP added.
Bamako, the capital city previously spared from shortages thanks to its priority status in supply, is now affected like the interior of the country, where shortages have been hitting for several days.
"We have made it clear to the authorities that we cannot guarantee supply in the regions. The priority is really Bamako and the users," a representative of the oil professionals' association told AFP.
Since Monday, long lines of cars and motorcyclists and crowds of users with jerry cans have been visible in front of the few stations still open in the Malian capital.
"Yesterday (Monday), I spent all afternoon in queues and couldn't find anything. This morning, unfortunately, I can't go out to make deliveries," said a tricycle driver.
"Since Monday, I've had all the difficulties in the world. I had to push my motorcycle from the Djicoroni neighborhood to Badalabougou, about nine kilometers, without ever having any fuel," explains another.
According to the oil industry association, "fuel will arrive in dribs and drabs," because "tankers can only leave with the authorization of military escorts," which are irregular and always under attack.
- "Power supply when stopped" -
The shortage is exacerbating the recurring severe power cuts that have plagued the Malian economy for five years, as the country's energy is mainly thermal.
From 19 hours a day, the electricity supply has been reduced to six hours in some places "to allow oil companies to serve gas stations first," a manager from the Energie du Mali company told AFP.
"In some inland towns, the power supply has stopped due to a lack of fuel for our generators. In Bamako, we only supply power for six hours a day," he adds.
"We haven't had electricity for more than two weeks in San," says a resident of this town in southwest Mali.
"Before, my cooler stayed cold all day. Now, with power cuts that can last 20 hours, my fish stock is rotting (...) My business is dying," laments a saleswoman in Mopti (central France).
In Ségou (centre), "to get fuel, you have to queue early in the morning at 6 o'clock in the morning to hope to have some at 3 o'clock in the evening," says a resident.
"The city of Ségou is becoming paralyzed if nothing is done," laments a local youth leader.
Since Monday, butane gas has also been difficult to obtain in Bamako, according to reports on social media.
Faced with the shortage, the junta - in power since two coups in 2020 and 2021 - extended its truck escort and price control missions at gas stations on Tuesday.
"This is only temporary; the situation will improve in the coming days," Soumaïla Djitteye, Deputy Director General of Commerce, assured the press.
In mid-September, Malian Prime Minister Abdoulaye Maïga assured oil professionals: "Even if we have to go and fetch fuel on foot with spoons, we will do it. We have no other choice."
Since 2012, Mali has been facing a security crisis fueled in particular by violence from JNIM and the Islamic State in the Sahel.
Commentaires (9)
Le Mali avait demandé a la CEDAO de quitter son territoire et de ne plus l'aider dans sa lutte contre le terrorisme. Ca commence a faire longtemps que la Russie est là et je n'ai pas l'impression que la situation s'ameliore.
La situation n'était pas mieux quand la France était là avec près de la moitié du pays inaccessible aux FAMAS
Des lâches, tout simplement. En Wolof, un dicton dit: "Il est plus facile de détruire que de construire". Il illustre tout à fait ce qui se passe au Mali 🇲🇱 Malgré les slogans répétés au sein de l'AES, les spots télévisés (ORTM 1 ORTM 2) vantant les militaires au pouvoir et les troupes, les FAMAs ont des difficultés face à l'ennemi qui se cache au sein de la population.
Signe que la situation sécuritaire et économique se détériore. Depuis quand la venue des camions est devenue un évènement à célébrer? Ça en dit long sur les problèmes de la junte.
Encore cet Timbuktu institut du nègre de maison esclave de salon Bakari sambe
Où est Afrika Corps ?
Où est Wagner ?
Où est la Russie ?
Les colonels avaient justifié leur coup par le manque de sécurité.
Article puclié par AFP (Agence France Presse) commenté par l'IA, jeunesse africaine réveillez vous, c'est de la pure désinformation !!!!!!
C'est des dirigeants qui n'aiment pas leur pays, se mettre à dos presque toutes les puissances étrangères capables de vous aider dans votre lutte et croire que ça marchera avec des slogans creux...
Ha les blakros de vrais incapables .Le Sénégal doit intervenir dans la sécurisation du corridor Dakar Bamako.Ils sont orgueilleux pour demander de l'aide des Djambars.
il ne fallait pas chasser LA MISSION DE l'ONU. grave erreur.
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