Chokepoint.ISSUE PREVIEW · 5 MIN READ
Bottom line: western Mali's supply lines run on armed escorts now. If you move fuel, ore or people through the region, lead times set your budget, not price.
ESCALATINGMali: fuel arrives by convoy
Malian authorities report 957 tankers reached Bamako under escort on 10 October, and 5,396 since September. So what: build escort lead times into every site fuel plan.
Source: APA, citing Mali's DGCC
WATCHSenegal to Mali: the Kidira road is shut
Traffic is being diverted via Moussala. So what: Dakar corridor routings just got longer.
Source: PressAfrik, 1 Oct 2026
STABLEMali mining: Loulo is back on a 10 year permit
Renewed in February after the 2025 settlement. So what: deals under the 2023 code are possible, at a price.
Source: Reuters, 13 Feb 2026