Residents of Bamako are dealing with two overwhelming crises at once: a crippling fuel shortage and a wave of foreign advisories urging citizens to leave Mali, creating what local reporters describe as a rising sense of fear and helplessness.
Across the capital, chaotic and extremely long queues have formed at gas stations as fuel becomes scarce, triggering widespread worry among the population.
Government updates have announced that convoys of fuel tankers, escorted by the Malian armed forces (FAMa), are on the way, but the situation on the streets remains extremely tense.
Alongside the fuel shortage, a psychological crisis is spreading after several Western nations issued public alerts advising their nationals to leave Mali immediately. These announcements, circulated heavily on social media, have intensified the anxiety already gripping the city.
While many Malians recognize the right of foreign governments to safeguard their citizens, there is clear discontent with how the warnings were communicated.
“The way it was announced caused panic,” journalist Yacouba Doumbia explained, adding that diplomatic channels could have delivered the message more responsibly instead of public posts that stirred fear.
The advisories follow recent abductions of foreigners, highlighting how the security situation has worsened.
Another journalist, Daouda Sangaré, acknowledged that foreign nations can advise their citizens as they choose but argued they should also engage diplomatically.
“They should propose a solution to be discussed with the Malian authorities,” he said.
His view reflects broader frustration among Malians who feel abandoned amid rising insecurity and economic collapse. Foreign citizens can leave, but Malian residents as many point out “have no other country to go to,” leaving them in a growing state of worry and uncertainty.
