Mali

BAMAKO, Mali (AP) — The U.S. Embassy in Mali on Tuesday urged American citizens to leave the country immediately, citing a severe fuel shortage and escalating security threats linked to a militant blockade. The embassy warned that overland travel is unsafe due to terrorist activity and advised departures via commercial flights.

The crisis stems from a blockade imposed in September by Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), an al-Qaida-affiliated group, which has targeted fuel tankers entering the landlocked West African nation. The group has reportedly set fire to more than 100 trucks, crippling fuel supplies and disrupting daily life across Mali.

Schools and universities have shut down nationwide, and transportation has nearly ground to a halt. The embassy’s alert follows a previous advisory issued just days earlier, warning against travel to Mali due to crime, terrorism, and kidnapping risks.

“U.S. citizens should depart using commercial aviation, as overland routes to neighboring countries may not be safe for travel due to terrorist attacks along national highways,” the embassy said in a statement.