Niger has revoked the operating licences of 14 transport operators and 19 fuel-tanker drivers after they refused to join a government-backed convoy delivering petrol and diesel to neighbouring Mali, where fuel supply disruptions have resurfaced amid persistent jihadist violence along key transport corridors.
Niger’s Ministry of Transport said Mali—an allied, landlocked state ruled by a military junta—had requested support as shortages again affected parts of the country, including Bamako airport, where some flights have been cancelled in recent days, according to reports citing local officials.
Under the plan, Niger, an oil-producing country, would dispatch 82 fuel tankers on a roughly 1,400-kilometre journey to Bamako, travelling under military escort given the security risks on sections of the route. The ministry statement said the refusals amounted to a breach of carriers’ regulatory obligations, prompting punitive measures that included revocations and suspensions.
Transport Minister Abdourahamane Amadou described the refusal to participate as a “serious violation” of the legal and regulatory obligations governing licensed transport operations. In addition to the revoked licences, authorities imposed a one-year suspension on another operator, the statement said.
Mali’s fuel situation has been particularly sensitive since late 2025, when the al-Qaeda-linked Group to Support Islam and Muslims (JNIM) targeted supply routes and fuel convoys, seeking to restrict imports to Bamako and other cities. Humanitarian organisations have warned that attacks on tankers and ambushes of escorts disrupt not only commerce but also essential services that depend on reliable fuel access.
The dispute over tanker participation also highlights the wider security environment facing the three junta-led allies—Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso—who have created the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) and announced a 5,000-strong joint force intended to coordinate cross-border operations against jihadist groups.
Officials in Niamey framed the licensing sanctions as both enforcement and deterrence: ensuring that state-directed logistics operations proceed despite heightened threat levels, while signalling that essential supply missions—particularly those tied to regional security and stability—will be treated as mandatory obligations for licensed carriers.
As Mali’s fuel distribution remains vulnerable to insecurity on major roads, the success of escorted convoys from Niger is likely to be viewed in Bamako as a near-term test of AES cooperation—both in providing practical economic relief and demonstrating that the alliance can protect critical infrastructure from insurgent disruption.
