France has advised its citizens in Mali to leave as soon as possible, as Islamist insurgents continue their blockade of the country.
The French foreign ministry advised citizens to depart on commercial flights while they are still available, and to avoid overland travel.
A two-month-old fuel blockade on Mali, imposed by an al-Qaeda-affiliated group, has upended daily life in the capital, Bamako, and other regions of the landlocked West African country, which is a former French colony.
This announcement comes as MSC - the world's biggest shipping company - has also announced it is halting operations in Mali, citing the blockade and worsened security conditions.
Long queues have been seen at petrol stations as residents struggle to secure fuel.
The jihadist group Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) has caused the obstruction by attacking fuel tankers on major highways. With no coast, Mali relies entirely on road imports for its fuel from neighboring countries.
Last month, the US embassy in Bamako ordered the evacuation of non-essential diplomatic staff and their families, citing concerns related to the fuel disruptions and potential impacts on overall security.
Mali's military junta, currently in power since a coup in 2020, initially garnered support with promises to address security crises. However, despite deployments of UN and French forces to combat the escalating insurgency, large areas remain outside government control, and the situation continues to deteriorate.
