Holiday Ayo - The United States Embassy in Mali on Tuesday (October 28) urged American citizens to "immediately leave" the country.

This comes as a fuel blockade by militants fighting the country's military government has made daily life increasingly dangerous.

Since last September, fighters linked to Al-Qaeda have targeted fuel tankers, particularly those coming from Senegal and Ivory Coast, which serve as transit points for most of Mali's imports.

The US Embassy said in a statement on its website that American citizens "should depart immediately by commercial flight," citing the "uncertain security situation in Bamako."

The difficulties faced, according to the US Embassy, include "continued disruptions in gasoline and diesel supplies, the closure of public institutions such as schools and universities across the country, and the ongoing armed conflict between the Malian government and terrorist elements around Bamako."

The US Embassy said "land routes to neighboring countries may be unsafe for travel due to terrorist attacks along national highways," adding that Bamako's international airport remains open.

Militants from the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims, known by its Arabic acronym JNIM, have recently attempted to isolate the Malian capital, Bamako, by increasing operations on surrounding roads.

Earlier on Friday, the US State Department authorized non-emergency personnel and family members of US government employees to leave the country due to safety risks.

Mali has struggled with a security crisis for more than a decade fueled by violence by militants affiliated with Al-Qaeda and ISIS, as well as criminal and other gangs.

The country also experienced coups in 2020 and 2021 and is currently ruled by a military junta, which has struggled to fight armed groups.