NIGER REVOKES LICENSES OF TRUCKERS REFUSING TO DELIVER FUEL TO MALI

Niger has revoked the licenses of about 30 transport operators and truck drivers for refusing to deliver fuel to neighboring Mali, which continues to face shortages due to a jihadist blockade.
The Ministry of Transport said 14 carriers and 19 drivers had their licenses revoked, while another operator received a one-year suspension. Transport Minister Abdourahamane Amadou described the refusal as a “serious violation of legal and regulatory obligations.”
Niger, an oil-producing country, had planned to send 82 fuel tankers under military escort to Bamako, covering the 1,400-kilometer route. Mali, ruled by a junta, suffered severe fuel shortages in October and November after militants from the Group to Support Islam and Muslims (JNIM), linked to Al-Qaeda, cut off supplies to several towns.
Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso — all military-led states — have formed the Alliance of Sahel States and deployed a 5,000-strong joint force to combat jihadist attacks in the region. Fuel shortages are again affecting parts of Mali, including Bamako airport, where several flights have been canceled in recent days.