The United States and the United Kingdom are withdrawing non-essential embassy staff from Mali due to a fuel blockade imposed by jihadists, exacerbating safety concerns in the country. This action follows continuous warnings for their citizens to depart immediately.

• The US State Department ordered the departure of "non-emergency employees and their family members" from Mali on Thursday.
• The Al-Qaeda-linked Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM) is responsible for the fuel blockade, primarily targeting tankers from Senegal and Ivory Coast since September.
• The blockade has particularly impacted Bamako, the capital, leading to the country's economy grinding to a halt over the past two weeks.