In a display of regional solidarity, a convoy of 82 fuel tankers from Niger has successfully reached Mali’s capital, Bamako, after a perilous 21-day journey. This lifeline arrives as the city grapples with a severe fuel crisis, largely caused by a two-month blockade enforced by al-Qaeda-linked militants who have repeatedly attacked supply routes. The delivery provides critical relief for Mali’s military junta, which is facing mounting pressure from the paralyzing scarcity. This support from a regional ally coincides with a separate pledge from Russia to supply 160,000-200,000 tons of petroleum and agricultural goods. The crisis underscores the shifting alliances of Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, which have abandoned ECOWAS and France in favor of Russian support against jihadist insurgents.
Africa News
