Mali jihadists’ fuel blockade hits Bamako: ‘Business is at a standstill’

“Some of the garages forced to shut last week, paralysing the city, have now reopened after more 300 petrol tankers arrived under army escort from Ivory Coast on Tuesday. The military government has assured residents it is only a temporary issue, but there are fears the new stock will quickly run out – as others complain about price hikes.”

“According to French public broadcaster Radio France Internationale (RFI), Malian officials are in ‘discreet’ talks with the militants to lift the blockade. It quoted a security source close to the negotiations as saying demands include the release of captured fighters and a relaxation of fuel restrictions. There have been reports that JNIM began the blockade because of a ban on the sale of fuel at locations other than service stations in rural areas – a move intended to cut the jihadists’ supplies. RFI said another demand by the Islamist militants was that women wear veils on buses.”

I think these two passages are the most illuminating. The junta has to do elaborate massive convoys just to bring fuel to the capital. Doesn’t seem like other cities are getting similar convoys, and who knows how long the junta can escort such convoys before JNIM strikes them. Without a surge in security forces I don’t think the junta can continuously convoy fuel without something going catastrophically wrong in the future. Evidently the junta agrees because they’re negotiating with JNIM. Thing is though, if you’re JNIM and you’re trying to topple the state, why would you stop? The junta has no response to this blockade and things get worse and worse for their grip on power