The blockade has crippled transport, power generation, and daily supply chains in Mali, intensifying hardship amid a broader wave of activity across the Sahel, including Niger and Burkina Faso.

The United Nations and regional observers warn that the latest disruption underscores the growing reach of militant networks and the fragility of state control.

Foreign Governments Issue Evacuation Advisories

According to Al Jazeera and official advisories, the United States has authorized the departure of non-essential embassy staff and families, urging all citizens to leave via commercial flights.

Similar advisories were issued by Australia, Germany, Italy, Japan, Canada, the United Kingdom, Spain, Lithuania, Slovenia, Taiwan, and South Korea, each citing the blockade and worsening insecurity.

Germany specifically warned against land travel, calling conditions “highly volatile.”

Blockade Paralyzes Bamako

The JNIM-imposed blockade has cut off fuel routes to the capital, leading to acute shortages that have affected transportation networks and electricity supply.

The crisis has disrupted daily life in Bamako and surrounding regions, with reports of grounded vehicles, blackouts, and inflation in basic commodities.

Wider Sahel Security Deterioration

In Niger and Burkina Faso, similar offensives by JNIM and Islamic State affiliates have resulted in mass-casualty attacks on civilians and soldiers.

Though no new mass evacuation orders have been issued there, most Western governments maintain Level 4 “Do Not Travel” advisories due to terrorism, kidnappings, and civil unrest.