Mali's military rulers have been grappling with a weeks-long blockade on fuel imports imposed by al-Qaeda-linked militants. The blockade has plunged the landlocked West African nation into power shortages and deepened the strain on its ruling junta.

The landlocked West African nation ofMaliis being squeezed by a weekslong blockade on fuel imports imposed by jihadi militants as the insurgent threat grows across the region.

The al-Qaeda-backed militant groupJama'at Nusrat alIslam walMuslimin (JNIM) imposed the blockade after authorities reduced fuel supplies to remote areas to force jihadists to leave their hide-outs.

The blockade has been a major setback for Malismilitary juntain a country that relies on fuel imports from neighbouringSenegalandIvory Coast. Amid the growing tensions, the government announced school closures, embassies ordered citizens to evacuate and citizens have gone hours without power.

The capital Bamako may not be under the control of JNIM yet but the militant group is "talking to opponents in Bamako, in Mali, and even in exile" with the view of creating a coalition which would lead to Islamic governance,said FRANCE 24 Terrorism Specialist Wassim Nasr.

Meanwhile, two UAE citizens kidnapped by JNIM were released on October 31.

There is a lot of "contradictory information about this liberation", said Nasr. "At the end of the day, we got to know that it was through merchants and traffickers in Mali that the deal was done, and we know that a bounty of $50 million was paid, and that 20 tonnes of ammunition will be provided in exchange [for the hostages]".

(FRANCE 24 with AFP)

Originally published on France24