Mali Shuts Down Schools and Universities as Islamist Militant Blockade Worsens Petrol Shortage

The landlocked West African country has temporarily halted schools and higher learning institutions throughout the country due to a severe energy crisis caused by a blockade on petroleum supplies enforced by militant groups.

Top education official stated on national broadcast that all academic facilities would remain closed until November 9th, clarifying that the travel of staff and learners had been disrupted by the restrictions.

He stated that the administration were “making every effort” to end the situation so that classes could continue on November 10th.

For several weeks, the nation has been experiencing a fuel shortage, particularly in the administrative center, after insurgents from an al-Qaeda affiliate enforced a blockade by attacking fuel trucks on major highways.

The country is landlocked, so all energy resources are delivered by land routes from bordering countries such as its western neighbor and Côte d'Ivoire.

Lengthy waits have been snaking around fuel outlets in Bamako in recent weeks, and the city's usually crowded streets have now allegedly grown silent.

The junta-led administration had earlier this month assured the public that it was only a temporary issue, but the emergency has persisted.

In the past few days, the American diplomatic mission in Bamako stated that non-critical embassy personnel and their relatives would leave the country amid the deteriorating petrol scarcity and escalating safety issues.

It noted that the energy interruptions had disrupted the power distribution and had the “ability to disturb” the overall security situation in unexpected forms.

The West African nation is presently governed by a military junta under the leadership of the military leader, who took control in a takeover in 2021.

The junta had popular support when it assumed control, committing to address the long-running security crisis triggered by a autonomy movement in the northern region by the Tuareg population, which was then hijacked by jihadist fighters.

The United Nations stabilization force and France's military had been sent in previously to combat the increasing militant activity.

These forces have withdrawn since the military assumed power, and the current administration has employed private military contractors to combat the insecurity.

Nonetheless, the jihadist insurgency has persisted and large parts of the northern and eastern zones of the state remain outside government control.