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

Long queues at petrol stations in Mali
Prolonged lines have been appearing around petrol stations in recent weeks

Mali has temporarily halted educational facilities and higher learning institutions across the nation due to a critical energy crisis triggered by a restriction on energy resources enforced by jihadist fighters.

The Education Minister announced on public media that all learning centers would stay shut until 9 November, noting that the transportation of employees and students had been disrupted by the imposed limitations.

He asserted that the administration were “making every effort” to resolve the emergency so that academic sessions could restart on 10 November.

For several weeks, Mali has been grappling with a fuel shortage, especially in the administrative center, after armed groups from an al-Qaeda-linked organization imposed a embargo by striking transport vehicles on key routes.

The country is without coastal access, so all petroleum products are brought in by road from bordering countries such as its western neighbor and the neighboring nation.

Extended lines have been forming around petrol stations in Bamako in recent weeks, and the city's normally bustling streets have now allegedly grown silent.

The junta-led administration had earlier this month reassured citizens that it was only a short-term problem, but the situation has persisted.

Last week, the US Embassy in the capital announced that secondary diplomatic employees and their relatives would evacuate the country amid the intensifying energy crisis and escalating safety issues.

It explained that the petroleum supply issues had disrupted the energy availability and had the “capacity to affect” the broader protection environment in unexpected forms.

The West African nation is currently ruled by a army council led by Gen Assimi Goïta, who assumed authority in a coup in two years ago.

The junta had public backing when it came to authority, committing to deal with the long-running security crisis prompted by a independence uprising in the northern region by the Tuareg population, which was then hijacked by jihadist fighters.

The UN peacekeeping mission and France's military had been sent in previously to deal with the increasing militant activity.

The international troops have departed since the new administration came in, and the current administration has employed private military contractors to combat the violence.

Nevertheless, the Islamist rebellion has persisted and significant areas of the northern and eastern zones of the country remain beyond state authority.

Colton Morton
Colton Morton

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