Niger Strikes Back: Fuel Delivery Licenses Revoked Amid Ongoing Jihadist Threats

Tue Jan 13 2026 22:40:04 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Niger has cancelled licenses for transport operators refusing to deliver fuel to Mali, amid escalating jihadist violence that threatens supply routes.

In a drastic move, Niger has revoked the licenses of 14 transport operators and 19 drivers who refused to risk their safety by delivering fuel to Mali, where jihadist groups have imposed a blockade. Niger, which had previously agreed to supply fuel during a severe scarcity in Mali, is now facing its own challenges as security risks mount. The blockade by militants has sparked fears and travel advisories for the region.

Niger has revoked the licences of dozens of transport operators and drivers for refusing to deliver fuel to neighbouring Mali where they face possible attacks from jihadist militants.

The al-Qaeda affiliated group has been blocking fuel imports into Mali since September, launching attacks on petrol tankers traveling on key routes.

Mali is heavily reliant on fuel imports and had struck a deal with Niger for 85 million litres of fuel to be delivered as part of an effort to stabilize energy supplies in its northern desert regions plagued by various militant groups.

As an oil-producing nation, Niger has been providing fuel support to Mali, both of which are governed by military juntas grappling with threats from jihadist violence.

However, the fuel convoys, which undertake a perilous journey spanning 1,400 km (approximately 870 miles), have come under attack even with military escorts.

Since the blockade's onset, Niger previously dispatched 82 fuel tankers to Mali, allowing for some stabilization in fuel availability. Yet, new shipments were put on hold as drivers began to refuse the dangerous trips.

Niger's Transport Minister, Abdourahamane Amadou, indicated that such refusals violate legal obligations, leading to the revocation of licenses and requiring the surrendered of transport documents.

The blockade has been attributed to the militant group Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), known for employing economic warfare tactics alongside kidnaps and arson against transport assets.

This ongoing fuel shortage has raised international concern, prompting advisories from the US and France regarding travel to Mali, while the local government, led by General Assimi Goïta, struggles to maintain control amid the escalating insurgency in the region.