Story perspectives

Mali Government Dismisses Jihadist Threat Amid Fuel Crisis

11/13/2025

Center

Diop Addresses Jihadist Fears

Mali's Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop dismissed fears that jihadists would overrun Bamako.
The fuel blockades by the al-Qaeda-linked group JNIM caused severe shortages and rising prices.
Diop said the government is managing the crisis and called the African Union's call misinformed.
The junta has distanced itself from Western allies and relies on Russian military support.
Schools have reopened, but the blockade has strained public services and raised crime and insecurity.

Left

Mariam Cissé Killed

Mariam Cissé, a TikTok influencer, was shot dead by suspected jihadists in Tonka, Mali.
The killing signals growing influence of Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) and the state's declining control in the region.
JNIM has maintained a fuel blockade since September, exacerbating shortages and forcing school closures.
International warnings for Mali’s citizens to flee have increased.
Analysts say the junta could collapse amid rising insecurity and kidnappings.

History

Historical Context

The 2012 Tuareg rebellion in Mali led to a coup that destabilized the region, allowing jihadist groups like Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM) to gain power. By September 2023, JNIM's blockade of Timbuktu caused a 50% rise in fuel prices, straining public services and prompting the Malian government to seek Russian military support, marking a significant shift from previous Western alliances.

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Diop Addresses Jihadist Fears

Mali's Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop dismissed fears that jihadists would overrun Bamako.
The fuel blockades by the al-Qaeda-linked group JNIM caused severe shortages and rising prices.
Diop said the government is managing the crisis and called the African Union's call misinformed.
The junta has distanced itself from Western allies and relies on Russian military support.
Schools have reopened, but the blockade has strained public services and raised crime and insecurity.

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