World’s largest shipping company halts cargo services to Mali amid security crisis

Swiss‑based shipping company MSC has announced the suspension of all bookings and overland cargo transport destined for Mali, citing serious security concerns and a crippling fuel shortage caused by a blockade imposed by al‑Qaeda–linked militants.

The decision reveals growing operational challenges for companies navigating the increasingly unstable West African nation.

The militant group Jama’at Nusrat al‑Islam wal‑Muslimin (JNIM) has targeted fuel‑tanker convoys attempting to reach Bamako, putting immense pressure on Mali’s military‑led government.

MSC stated that “major operational challenges caused by safety concerns and a fuel shortage” have made road transportation for cargo destined for Mali “temporarily suspended until further notice.”

French shipping firm CMA CGM reported similar difficulties, noting that over‑land transport had been “heavily impacted in terms of both transit times and costs” because of Mali’s fuel and security issues.

However, CMA CGM reversed an earlier decision to suspend shipments after consultations with Mali’s transport ministry.

MSC isn’t simply a casualty of Mali’s crisis. Its decision carries weight because of its vast scale and footprint in Africa.

MSC’s group fleet and operations handle approximately 22 million TEU (twenty‑foot equivalent units) annually and call at over 520 ports across 155 countries.

In Africa specifically, MSC operates a network of local agencies in more than 45 countries and has launched ultra‑large container vessels (ULCVs) of up to 24,000 TEU capacity to West African ports, including Lomé, Abidjan, and Tema.

The suspension of bookings by MSC signals a lack of confidence in the current security and logistic environment.

Given MSC’s huge scale and investment in Africa, this move may serve as a barometer for other logistics companies and could exacerbate Mali’s economic and supply‑chain vulnerability.

Clashes between local militias, bandits, and jihadist factions have intensified, creating widespread instability beyond the threat from al-Qaeda-linked groups.

Analysts say the lack of coordination has constrained Mali’s ability to secure vital resources and international cooperation, leaving the government struggling to suppress militant operations.

JNIM has capitalised on this vacuum, executing strategic attacks on fuel convoys and showing strength in disrupting essential supply chains, while the government has been unable to maintain consistent security coverage outside major urban centres.