₦airaland Forum

The US embassy in Mali urged American citizens Tuesday to “depart immediately” as a fuel blockade by jihadists who are battling the country’s military-run government renders daily life increasingly dangerous.

Since September, Al-Qaeda-linked fighters have targeted fuel tankers, particularly those coming from Senegal and Ivory Coast, through which the majority of Mali’s imported goods transit.

The jihadists from the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims, known by its Arabic acronym JNIM, have recently appeared to be seeking to isolate the capital Bamako by increasing operations on the surrounding roads.

The US embassy said in a statement on its website that Americans “should depart immediately using commercial aviation”, citing the “unpredictability of Bamako’s security situation”.

Difficulties, it said, included “continued disruptions of gasoline and diesel supplies, the closure of public institutions such as schools and universities nationwide, and ongoing armed conflict between Malian government and terrorist elements around Bamako”.

On Friday, the US State Department authorised non-emergency personnel and family members of US government employees to leave the country due to the safety risks.

Mali has been battling a security crisis for more than a decade fuelled by violence by jihadists affiliated with Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group, as well as criminal and other gangs.

The country additionally underwent coups in 2020 and 2021 and is ruled by a military junta, which has struggled to counter the armed groups.

Despite military escorts, fuel tankers have had limited success in reaching Bamako.

Many have been set on fire, while drivers and soldiers have been killed or kidnapped in jihadist ambushes.

In its statement Tuesday, the US embassy said “overland routes to neighboring countries may not be safe for travel due to terrorist attacks along national highways”, adding that the international airport in Bamako remained open.

The United States had already issued a “do not travel” advisory for Mali, warning against going to the country “for any reason”.

osuofia2:
I know the junta was sitting on a time bomb, I remember how obidients were bad mouthing Nigeria because of Mali, dishing out fake statistics of how Mali is the best next thing after Isiewu.
But why are the Jeehadists making the world a violent place, is that they can't stay in peace. Always disturbing everywhere

luckihy:
How come the so called Military Leaders cannot guarantee safety in this country. What happened to all the promises the military coup leaders made when they took power.

Mali was safer under democracy than now with the military junta.

aariwa:
Far better than oyo and oshun forests whose indigenes have not returned from exile in benin republic since 2021 after clearance of Obas and throwing their bodies into the river by Fulani young boys

drstranged:
France, o France! Franceeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

VladimirTheGrea:
With all resources of US and all its military assets, yet nations where they have different kinds of military and trade agreements suffer insurgency and terrorism.

We know who is selling weapons to those uncircumcised ďíĉkĥéáďs.

They're ćôẁárd§ and will always remain so.

aariwa:
from kwara it will cover the entire Yoruba Forest states with exception of former FCT Lagos which Yorubas have no hand in building even though they continue destroying it as destruction and backwardness is the only thing they know as they don’t know how to progress …prayers for them

FreeStuffsNG:
D.S.S is reading your comments and cooking your beans and breakfast.

2mch:
West Africa needs to come together to make sure they deal these jihadists a fatal blow.

osuofia2:
I know the junta was sitting on a time bomb, I remember how obidients were bad mouthing Nigeria because of Mali, dishing out fake statistics of how Mali is the best next thing after Isiewu.
But why are the Jeehadists making the world a violent place, is that they can't stay in peace. Always disturbing everywhere

Melagros:
COMRADES, when the army seized power in Mali I thought insecurity will be a thing of the past, look at what is happening now in Mali

FreeStuffsNG:
Life Gradually Returns to deserted Igbo Communities Formerly Occupied by Terrorists

https://www.nairaland.com/8549830/life-gradually-returns-deserted-igbo
Nigeria is actually recovering land and territories from terrorists