Since the beginning of September, the Support Group for Islam and Muslims has stepped up its roadblock actions, even threatening to ban the import of fuel to the capital, Bamako.

Populations in the center of the country, particularly in Mopti and Bandiagara, are suffering the consequences. There, electricity has been cut off for more than ten days.

A difficult situation to live through

In Mopti, residents have been without access to electricity for nearly two weeks. This is an unprecedented situation for Mali's third most populous city, which had a population of 330,000 in 2024. This energy crisis is the result of the scarcity of fuel needed to generate electricity.

"Since October 7, there has been no electricity in Mopti. Every night, the population lives in fear. Meanwhile, a liter of fuel sells for between 2,000 and 3,000 CFA francs," explains Papa Kanda Kelly, a journalist in Mopti.

He explains that before this crisis, the city enjoyed about ten hours of electricity per day. Today, many people are unemployed. The local radio station is no longer functioning, and using generators is becoming very expensive. "It's difficult to do our job in these conditions," he laments.

Bandiagara also affected

The neighboring town of Bandiagara, about 100 kilometers away, is suffering the same fate. "We have been without electricity for more than ten days.

In the city, some motorcyclists are still able to get fuel, but the supply remains irregular and prices fluctuate. Energy supplies are struggling to be supplied. This is plunging the city completely into darkness,” explains Hamadou Haïdara, secretary general of the Bandiagara Regional Youth Council.

In response to this crisis, the transitional government convened an interministerial committee for crisis and disaster management on October 14. It announced the implementation of resources to monitor fuel distribution, secure convoys, and guarantee so-called "critical" hydrocarbon-related work.

The Malian authorities also want to conclude diplomatic agreements with the seaports from which the hydrocarbons come, without specifying which ones.