Shipping Firm MSC Suspends Mali Services Over Fuel, Security Concerns
Swiss-based transport company MSC halts operations to Mali citing security issues and fuel shortages due to militant blockade.
BAMAKO: Swiss-based shipping company MSC has suspended all bookings for services in Mali due to significant operational challenges arising from safety concerns and a fuel shortage.
The fuel shortage stems from a blockade imposed by militants, which has severely impacted the landlocked West African country, particularly its capital, Bamako.The two-month-old blockade, resulting from militant attacks on fuel tankers attempting to reach Bamako, has effectively paralyzed road transportation in the region.
These attacks have intensified pressure on Mali's military-led government and have raised concerns about potential attempts by the extremists to assert their rule over the territory.In a statement released on Thursday, MSC detailed that due to these major operational challenges, it was temporarily suspending cargo transport services for Mali until further notice.
French shipping company CMA CGM also reported significant impacts on its operations in terms of transit times and costs but decided against suspending cargo shipments following discussions with officials from Mali's Transport Ministry.The situation in Mali has prompted several Western countries to advise their citizens to leave the country, including France, the United States, Britain, and Italy.
Additionally, a kidnapping incident involving five Indian nationals working on electrification projects near Kobri, western Mali, was confirmed by both the company and security sources.
This highlights the ongoing risks foreigners face in Mali, which has experienced coups and conflicts since 2012.Recent incidents include the kidnapping of two Emirati nationals and an Iranian near Bamako in September, for which a ransom of at least $50 million was reportedly paid for their release.
Despite these escalations, analysts believe that Bamako's fall to the militants is currently unlikely due to their lack of military and governance capacity.Charlie Werb from Aldebaran Threat Consultants stated, "I do not believe the militants possess the capability or intent to take Bamako at this time, though the threat it now poses to the city is unprecedented".
Sources close to the situation suggest that while the extremists may initially engage in harassment operations, they lack the ability to capture Bamako independently.
The fuel shortage stems from a blockade imposed by militants, which has severely impacted the landlocked West African country, particularly its capital, Bamako.The two-month-old blockade, resulting from militant attacks on fuel tankers attempting to reach Bamako, has effectively paralyzed road transportation in the region.
These attacks have intensified pressure on Mali's military-led government and have raised concerns about potential attempts by the extremists to assert their rule over the territory.In a statement released on Thursday, MSC detailed that due to these major operational challenges, it was temporarily suspending cargo transport services for Mali until further notice.
French shipping company CMA CGM also reported significant impacts on its operations in terms of transit times and costs but decided against suspending cargo shipments following discussions with officials from Mali's Transport Ministry.The situation in Mali has prompted several Western countries to advise their citizens to leave the country, including France, the United States, Britain, and Italy.
Additionally, a kidnapping incident involving five Indian nationals working on electrification projects near Kobri, western Mali, was confirmed by both the company and security sources.
This highlights the ongoing risks foreigners face in Mali, which has experienced coups and conflicts since 2012.Recent incidents include the kidnapping of two Emirati nationals and an Iranian near Bamako in September, for which a ransom of at least $50 million was reportedly paid for their release.
Despite these escalations, analysts believe that Bamako's fall to the militants is currently unlikely due to their lack of military and governance capacity.Charlie Werb from Aldebaran Threat Consultants stated, "I do not believe the militants possess the capability or intent to take Bamako at this time, though the threat it now poses to the city is unprecedented".
Sources close to the situation suggest that while the extremists may initially engage in harassment operations, they lack the ability to capture Bamako independently.
