People line up with their motorcycles at a gas station amid a fuel shortage in Bamako, Mali, on Tuesday.

Heavily armed soldiers have escorted a fuel convoy into Mali’s capital, Bamako, in the first breach of a tightening blockade by Islamist rebels who have attacked and torched dozens of tanker trucks across the West African country.

Motorcyclists cheered and raised their fists in celebration as they welcomed the arrival of more than 250 fuel tankers in the convoy from neighbouring Ivory Coast, according to videos posted by local television stations and social media accounts.

The city has suffered for the past week from the blockade, which has caused serious fuel shortages, soaring prices, lengthy queues at gas stations and other economic damage. The Islamist militias imposed the blocka

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