African Union Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf expressed his "deep concern" about the "rapidly deteriorating security situation in Mali" and called for "enhanced cooperation, intelligence-sharing and sustained support" for countries in the western Sahel confronted with rapidly expanding activity from jihadist groups, Reuters reported on Nov. 10. This comes despite local testimonies indicating a marginal easing of fuel shortages in recent days amid a fuel blockade imposed by al Qaeda affiliate Jamaat Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin, or JNIM, in junta-controlled areas.