Tankers sanctioned in Mali
Niger has revoked the licenses of dozens of drivers and transport operators who refused to deliver fuel to neighboring Mali, where jihadist attacks have made tanker routes increasingly dangerous. The move follows a fuel blockade imposed by an al-Qaeda-linked group that has torched trucks and kidnapped drivers, crippling Mali’s energy supply. Although Niger agreed to ship millions of liters of fuel to its ally, deliveries stalled as operators balked at the risks of the 1,400-kilometer journey, even under military escort. Authorities in Niamey called the refusals a breach of legal obligations, underscoring the strain between security fears and state demands. As militant groups expand their insurgency into economic warfare, the fuel crisis is deepening instability in an already fragile region.
BBC