Niger has revoked the licenses of dozens of transport operators and drivers for refusing to deliver fuel to neighboring Mali where they face possible attacks by jihadists.
Niger and Mali, both governed by military juntas, are close allies alongside Burkina Faso, another military-led state in the Sahel region. The three countries continue to face escalating attacks from jihadist groups.
Mali suffered a sharp fuel crisis in October and November after fighters from the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM), an Al-Qaeda-linked militant organization, disrupted fuel supply routes to several cities across the country.
As an oil-producing nation, Niger had planned to dispatch 82 fuel tankers to Mali’s capital, Bamako, along a roughly 1,400-kilometre route, with military escorts providing security.
However, Niger’s Ministry of Transport said it withdrew the licenses of 14 transport companies and 19 drivers who refused to participate in the operation. The decision was contained in an official ministry statement seen on Monday. One additional transport operator was issued a one-year suspension.
Transport Minister Abdourahamane Amadou described the refusal as a breach of regulations, saying it amounted to “a serious violation of the legal and regulatory obligations in force.”
Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso are members of the Alliance of Sahel States, a regional bloc formed after their withdrawal from broader West African security arrangements. The alliance has announced plans for a 5,000-strong joint military force, with their armed forces already conducting coordinated operations against jihadist groups.
Fuel shortages have once again begun to affect parts of Mali, including Bamako airport, where several flights have reportedly been cancelled in recent days due to limited fuel availability.