Mali Foreign Minister Discusses Security Situation with U.S. Official
Last week, Washington ordered non-essential embassy staff and U.S. citizens to leave Mali due to escalating security concerns. This followed a U.S. travel warning advising against trips to Mali.
Mali's capital, Bamako, has experienced severe fuel shortages caused by a blockade imposed by Islamist insurgents. These militants have attacked and torched fuel tankers on highways leading into the city over the past two months.
As a landlocked country, Mali relies heavily on fuel shipments from Senegal. Despite army soldiers escorting convoys, attacks on these shipments continue unabated.
Christopher Landau, a State Department official, said on Tuesday that he spoke by phone with Mali's foreign minister to discuss the evolving security situation.
There are growing concerns that the junta's grip on power may be weakening amid these ongoing disruptions.
Summary
The U.S. has scaled back its presence in Mali amid rising insecurity caused by Islamist insurgent attacks disrupting critical fuel supplies to the capital, highlighting potential instability in Mali's leadership.