Bamako, Mali – A growing logistical crisis is threatening trade and humanitarian access to landlocked Mali, as a surge in jihadist activity disrupts key transport routes and leaves thousands of shipping containers stranded both within the country and at the port of Dakar, Senegal. The disruption, compounded by fuel shortages and bureaucratic delays, is raising concerns about rising prices and potential supply disruptions as the Muslim holy month of Ramadan approaches.
More than 4,000 empty shipping containers are currently stuck inside Mali, unable to be returned to Dakar due to insecurity along the primary trade corridor. This situation is creating a bottleneck, with the Malian Shippers’ Council warning of a dangerous depletion of available containers at the Senegalese port, potentially impacting future shipments to Mali and placing added pressure on businesses. The council has demanded the swift return of the containers, most owned by shipping giants MSC and Hapag-Lloyd, but faces significant obstacles.
The primary impediment is a marked increase in attacks by al-Qaeda-linked militants, specifically the group Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM). JNIM initiated a blockade in early September 2025, targeting fuel-tanker convoys and other commercial traffic along key routes near the borders with Senegal and Mauritania. Recent incidents, including an ambush last Thursday that killed at least a dozen truck drivers despite military escort, have made transporters increasingly unwilling to risk the journey. “You can’t force people to take that risk,” explained a Malian entrepreneur who has containers awaiting return to Dakar.
The fuel blockade, now entering its second month, has had a crippling effect on daily life in Bamako and across the country. MSC, the world’s largest shipping company, temporarily suspended all cargo services to Mali in November 2025, citing worsening security and fuel shortages. While MSC resumed services after discussions with Malian authorities, the underlying risks remain. CMA CGM, another major shipping line, briefly halted overland operations but later reversed its decision after engaging with the Malian transport ministry.
The crisis extends beyond security concerns. Malian businesses report significant delays at customs in Bamako, with containers often waiting weeks or months for processing. Allegations of corruption further complicate the situation, with some drivers reportedly abandoning containers rather than navigate the bureaucratic hurdles. While customs procedures have been expedited for fuel tankers to alleviate the immediate fuel crisis, the backlog of other goods persists.
The economic implications are substantial. The cost of a single shipping container is approximately €5,000, meaning the 4,000 stranded containers represent an estimated €20 million in tied-up capital. Economists warn that these increased logistical costs will inevitably be passed on to consumers, potentially exacerbating economic hardship in a country where nearly 70 percent of imports transit through Dakar.
The current situation echoes a similar crisis just months ago, when a large number of full containers were stuck at the port of Dakar awaiting transport to Mali, exceeding allowed storage limits. Mali’s transport minister, Dembélé Madina Sissoko, intervened at that time, securing a waiver of storage penalties and a three-month deadline for clearing the backlog. As of February 2026, 304 containers remain at Dakar, with a final deadline of February 24th for their removal.
The Malian government has repeatedly stated its commitment to securing supplies and controlling price increases, particularly in anticipation of Ramadan. However, the ongoing insecurity and logistical challenges pose a significant threat to these efforts. The disruption is not solely a Malian problem; it impacts regional trade flows and highlights the fragility of supply chains in the Sahel region, a known epicenter of global terrorism.
The JNIM blockade, while partially contained by the Malian army, continues to disrupt the supply of petrol and diesel. The group’s tactics, including erecting checkpoints to extort “taxes” from traders and torching vehicles, are designed to impose a stranglehold on the capital, Bamako, and exert pressure on the military-led government. The situation is further complicated by the poor condition of roads, which forces trucks to travel slowly and increases their vulnerability to attack. Empty containers, lacking military escort on return journeys, are particularly at risk from improvised explosive devices.
The United States, France, the United Kingdom, and Italy have all issued updated travel advisories for Mali, urging their citizens to exercise extreme caution or to leave the country altogether. France specifically urged its citizens to depart on Friday, February 6, 2026, reflecting the deteriorating security situation. The US recently dispatched an envoy to Bamako in an attempt to revitalize relations with Mali, signaling a continued, albeit cautious, interest in the country’s stability.
