Swiss-based shipping giant Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) has announced a temporary suspension of its cargo services to and from Mali, citing serious operational difficulties caused by fuel shortages and rising security threats.

In a statement posted on Thursday, November 6, MSC said it would no longer accept new bookings for Mali until further notice.

The company said it made the decision because of safety concerns and a lack of fuel caused by a blockade from the al-Qaeda-linked group Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM).

The militant group’s two-month-old blockade has severely disrupted the supply of fuel to the landlocked West African nation.

Convoys carrying fuel tankers have reportedly been attacked while attempting to reach the capital, Bamako, crippling transportation and increasing pressure on the country’s military-led government.

According to MSC, the suspension applies to all ports of discharge used for Mali-bound cargo, including Abidjan, Dakar, Tema, Lome and Conakry. The company said that road transport to Mali has been halted “until further notice” due to the ongoing situation.

For cargo already accepted before 6 November 2025, MSC stated that it would either deliver shipments to the contracted port of discharge, hold them ashore or afloat until transport can resume, or store them safely at an alternative location at the merchant’s expense.

Meanwhile, French shipping firm CMA CGM reported that its overland operations had also been heavily affected, with delays and higher costs due to the same fuel and security crisis. However, the company reversed an earlier decision to suspend shipments after discussions with Mali’s transport ministry.

The escalating situation has prompted several Western nations to update their travel advisories. France on Friday urged its citizens to leave Mali, following similar advisories from the United States, United Kingdom, and Italy.

Reference: MSC