Keypoints:
- Mali dismisses claims militants near Bamako
- Government says blockade impact is easing
- Officials insist Mali remains safe for visitors
MALI has moved to dismiss escalating international warnings that militant groups are inching towards the capital, insisting that the security situation in Bamako remains firmly under control. Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop delivered the government’s strongest rebuttal yet during a press conference late on Wednesday, saying predictions of an imminent collapse were disconnected from reality.
Western countries, including the US, France, Britain and Italy, have urged their nationals to leave Mali in recent days, citing worsening security conditions and uncertainty over the government’s capacity to protect key installations. Their warnings followed a fuel import blockade claimed by the al Qaeda-linked group Jama’a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin (JNIM), which has caused long queues at petrol stations and forced temporary school closures.
Diop said Mali was ‘very far’ from the dire scenario being described by external observers. He said those suggesting militants were preparing to strike the capital were ‘dreaming’ and had misunderstood both the political and security landscape.
Fuel shortages ease as schools reopen
The blockade, announced by JNIM in September, has strained daily life in the landlocked nation. The group claimed it would choke fuel supplies into Bamako, and for several weeks, the city saw extended queues and reduced transport availability. A number of schools were also forced to suspend classes after teachers and pupils struggled to travel.
However, Diop said the government had implemented measures to cushion the impact. Many schools, he noted, reopened on Monday, and fuel deliveries were gradually normalising. He pointed to Bamako’s ongoing defence exhibition—featuring Turkish defence firms—as evidence that the capital remained operational and open for business.
‘We are successfully mitigating the effects of the blockade,’ Diop said. ‘This situation does not reflect any collapse or infiltration of terrorists in Bamako.’
Minister insists militants are ‘no match’ for the army
In addressing concerns about militant advancement, Diop said JNIM remained far from posing a direct threat to the capital. He described the group as ‘no match’ for Mali’s security forces, which have increased operations in rural areas over the past year.
‘We are not at all in that scenario,’ he said. ‘Those making such predictions need to wake up from their dreams.’
The comments appeared aimed at countering a narrative that has gathered momentum since the African Union’s November 9 call for an urgent international response to the region’s deteriorating security. The AU urged greater intelligence-sharing and coordination, warning that the Sahel’s insecurity could worsen without swift action.
Diop rejected that assessment, arguing that the AU’s understanding of the situation was incomplete.
Foreign departures spark diplomatic unease
The spate of renewed travel advisories has injected fresh tension into Mali’s already strained relations with Western governments. Diop said he respected the decisions of countries advising their nationals to leave but insisted such actions did not reflect the actual conditions in Bamako.
‘I respect the choice of certain countries that have asked their nationals to leave,’ he said. ‘But Mali has always been, and remains, welcoming to foreigners.’
Mali has increasingly reshaped its alliances since the military took power, distancing itself from Western partners and engaging more deeply with Russia for security support. The shift has been part of a broader regional realignment involving neighbouring Niger and Burkina Faso, both of which have withdrawn from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) alongside Mali.
Sahel alliance looks outward as Western ties fray
The three military-led governments have pushed back against what they describe as excessive Western interference, embracing a more self-reliant security posture and forming the Alliance of Sahel States. Their cooperation, including intelligence exchanges and joint operations, has been framed as an alternative to ECOWAS, which they accuse of failing to address terrorism effectively.
Russian involvement—ranging from military equipment to advisers—has expanded during this period, drawing concern from Western capitals but praised by Sahel governments as more dependable and more aligned with their objectives.
US relations warm under Trump administration
Despite the geopolitical shifts, Diop signalled that relations with the US were improving under President Donald Trump’s administration. He said the two countries were engaged in ongoing ‘dialogue’ on security and economic matters, though he offered no specifics.
His remarks were clearly designed to reassure both domestic and international audiences that Mali remained stable, functional and capable of managing the insurgency. While the fuel blockade exposed vulnerabilities and heightened anxiety, the government maintains that militant groups have not advanced toward the capital and remain confined to rural zones.
For now, Bamako’s leadership is betting that a firm public stance—and visible signs of normal life returning—will counter external warnings and preserve confidence among citizens and foreign partners alike.
