How long can Mali endure as its lifelines are cut off by insurgent control? Italy has issued a stark warning to its citizens, advising them to avoid travel to Mali and urging those already in the country to leave immediately amid a worsening security crisis and a severe fuel blockade enforced by al-Qaeda-linked militants. The Italian Foreign Ministry said the blockade, coupled with escalating attacks, has heightened instability even in the capital, Bamako, where foreign nationals have traditionally been considered relatively safe.
Jocomms correspondents report that the warning follows a similar advisory from the United States, reflecting growing international concern over the deteriorating situation in the West African nation. An Italian Foreign Ministry spokesperson confirmed that roughly 70 Italians remain in Mali, most of them residing in Bamako. Authorities warned that a deepening fuel shortage could cripple transport, disrupt essential services, and complicate evacuation efforts if the crisis continues unchecked.
The militant group Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) declared the blockade in early September and has since launched multiple attacks on convoys carrying fuel into the landlocked nation. With insurgents tightening their grip and diplomatic missions scaling back operations, the question looms large—how close is Mali to total isolation as extremist violence and economic paralysis converge? Visit www.jocomms.com for more news.
