Malawi cracks down on illegal fuel traders amid soaring prices and shortages
Malawi has begun a nationwide operation targeting fuel hoarders and unlicensed sellers as diesel and petrol become scarce and pump prices exceed $3 per litre.
Facing weeks of diesel and petrol scarcity, Malawi launched a countrywide crackdown on fuel hoarders and black-market sellers. Under the new rules, unlicensed dealers can be arrested and petrol stations caught stockpiling may lose their licences. The shortage has forced truckers to queue for up to seven days and caused bus fares to double on certain routes.
A shortage of hard currency has driven the central bank to liquidate gold reserves to pay suppliers, while the government has turned back to the IMF for a new bailout package. With pump prices above $3 per litre, Malawi now ranks among the most expensive fuel markets in Africa, underscoring how rising crude prices strain economies that rely heavily on imports.
Why it matters
The crackdown reveals how fuel scarcity and high prices are destabilising Malawi's transport sector and broader economy.
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