Jihadists in Mali targeted a fuel tanker convoy on Saturday, ending an unofficial truce that had temporarily eased the country’s severe fuel shortage.
The attack, claimed by the Al-Qaeda-linked Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM), struck a Malian army escort protecting tanker trucks near Bougouni in southern Mali. The army confirmed that its convoy came under fire on the Bougouni-Bamako road but said the situation was “under control” and that damaged tankers were dealt with, while the remaining convoy reached its destination safely.
AFP journalists observed dozens of tankers arriving in Bamako from Bougouni, a major route from Ivory Coast. A security source in Sikasso reported that more than 20 tankers were destroyed in the attack.
Fuel convoys had recently resumed under army escort and Russian paramilitary support from Africa Corps, with aerial surveillance helping ensure safer passage. Supplies had improved due to increased military protection and a reduction in JNIM attacks during the past month, when an unofficial truce appeared to be in place.
JNIM is considered Mali’s most powerful jihadist group and a major threat in the Sahel region, according to the United Nations. Mali has faced repeated attacks from local militias and Islamic militants for over a decade, with the military junta, which seized power in 2020 and 2021, struggling to maintain security.
The latest strike highlights the fragile nature of the unofficial truce and underscores the ongoing challenges Mali faces in securing its supply routes against militant attacks.
