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 - a former French colony.
France's announcement came as MSC - the world's biggest shipping company - said it was halting its operations in Mali, citing the blockade and deteriorating security.
The jihadist group Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) has been obstructing supply routes by attacking tankers on major highways. All fuel supplies in Mali are transported by road from neighboring countries, including Senegal and Ivory Coast.
Last month, the U.S. embassy in Bamako announced that non-essential diplomatic staff and their families would leave Mali amid the crisis, highlighting that the fuel disruptions had affected electricity supplies and could threaten overall security.
Mali, presently under the control of a military junta, first fell into a coup back in 2020, with ongoing conflicts that have resulted in a security crisis due to a separatist rebellion in the north and subsequent jihadist insurgency.
The junta previously had popular support for its promises to resolve these security issues but has faced growing unrest, leading to a reliance on Russian mercenaries for security.
As the situation deteriorates with large parts of the north and east of Mali remaining outside government control, France and other nations are pivoting to protect their citizens.
