The French government advises residents to depart Mali urgently amid militant fuel blockade

The French Republic has issued an urgent recommendation for its nationals in the landlocked nation to depart as quickly as possible, as militant groups maintain their blockade of the country.

The French foreign ministry advised individuals to leave using aviation transport while they remain available, and to avoid road journeys.

Energy Emergency Intensifies

A recently imposed gasoline restriction on Mali, implemented by an al-Qaeda-linked group has upended daily life in the capital, the capital city, and different parts of the surrounded West African country - a ex-colonial possession.

France's announcement coincided with MSC - the world's biggest shipping company - announcing it was halting its activities in the country, referencing the embargo and deteriorating security.

Militant Operations

The militant faction Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin has caused the blockage by assaulting fuel trucks on main routes.

Mali has no coast so all fuel supplies are brought in by highway from neighboring states such as the neighboring country and the coastal nation.

Global Reaction

In recent weeks, the American diplomatic mission in Bamako stated that secondary embassy personnel and their families would depart the nation during the crisis.

It said the gasoline shortages had impacted the power availability and had the "potential to disrupt" the "comprehensive stability environment" in "unforeseen manners".

Leadership Background

The West African nation is now led by a military junta headed by Gen Assimi Goïta, who initially took control in a coup in recent years.

The military council had popular support when it assumed control, promising to address the long-running security crisis caused by a separatist rebellion in the north by ethnic Tuaregs, which was then hijacked by jihadist fighters.

Foreign Deployment

The UN peacekeeping mission and French forces had been positioned in 2013 to address the growing rebellion.

Each have withdrawn since the armed leadership gained power, and the military government has employed foreign security contractors to combat the instability.

Nonetheless, the militant uprising has endured and significant areas of the north and east of the state remain outside government control.