Mali’s government announced fuel rationing Thursday to manage shortages caused by al-Qaeda-linked militants attacking fuel convoys in border regions. The landlocked West African country said cars would be limited to refueling every 72 hours and motorcycles every 48 hours, part of an effort to ensure equitable distribution as supply routes have deteriorated.
Since September, jihadist militants have increasingly attacked fuel trucks, burning more than a hundred vehicles and crippling the country’s import and distribution network. Over 2,000 tanker trucks entered Mali since the start of the year, significantly less than the 6,000 per month that arrived before the attacks began.
The rationing reflects the deepening security crisis in Mali and the country’s pivot toward Russia. The military junta that took power in May 2021 has turned from Western allies to Russian paramilitary forces, whose Africa Corps troops now escort fuel convoys. The fuel shortage threatens daily life for ordinary Malians, particularly taxi drivers who depend on frequent refueling for income.
Mali’s trade and industry minister, Moussa Alassane Diallo, announced the rationing system Thursday in meetings with petroleum importers. Vehicles will be required to register their license plates to participate. Authorities said the measures aim to ensure equitable distribution and monitor quantities sold at gas stations.
Fuel Imports Plunge 67 Percent
The fuel shortage has worsened as jihadist militants have escalated attacks on supply convoys. The Malian fuel importers union documented the decline: over 2,000 tanker trucks have entered the country since the start of 2026, compared with up to 6,000 per month before the militant campaign intensified in September. In recent weeks alone, militants have burned more than a hundred vehicles and effectively severed the trade routes by which fuel reaches landlocked Mali.
Russia Assumes Security Role
The military government’s response—deploying Russian paramilitary forces to escort fuel convoys—reflects Mali’s broader shift away from Western partners. Since the military junta seized power in May 2021, Mali has increasingly turned to Russia for security support. A Malian fuel importer told the Associated Press that Russian soldiers from Moscow’s Africa Corps are already protecting tanker convoys to prevent militant attacks.
Ibrahim Touré, head of the petroleum importers union, expressed conditional confidence in the strategy. “We are committed to ending the fuel crisis as long as the military continues to escort our tanker trucks,” he said Thursday.
Daily Life Under Strain
But the rationing measures have raised concerns among ordinary Malians who depend on frequent refueling. Oumar Coulibaly, a taxi driver working in the capital, Bamako, said the restrictions threaten his livelihood. “These measures may work for private cars, but for us taxi drivers, it’s going to be difficult because we don’t earn enough money to fill up our taxis every time we go,” he said. “We do a lot of trips, and we need fuel.”
Beverly Ochieng, a senior analyst with the consultancy Control Risks, cautioned that the underlying security problem is unlikely to resolve quickly. “Insecurity on supply routes due to militant presence and activity will remain a challenge to the transportation of fuel in the coming weeks, and the stability of supplies will vary,” she said.
The government did not specify when rationing would begin, though officials suggested the timing was intended to head off public discontent before Ramadan, the Muslim holy month, begins in a few weeks.