The West African nation Shuts Down Schools and Universities as Islamist Militant Blockade Exacerbates Petrol Emergency
Mali has closed schools and colleges throughout the country due to a severe fuel scarcity resulting from a embargo on petroleum supplies enforced by jihadist fighters.
Top education official announced on state television that all education institutions would be inactive until November 9th, explaining that the transportation of staff and students had been disrupted by the imposed limitations.
He emphasized that the government officials were “doing everything possible” to end the crisis so that educational activities could continue on 10 November.
For a number of weeks, the nation has been experiencing a fuel shortage, particularly in the administrative center, after armed groups from an al-Qaeda-linked organization enforced a blockade by attacking tankers on key routes.
The country is without coastal access, so all fuel supplies are delivered by road from bordering countries such as its western neighbor and the neighboring nation.
Extended lines have been winding around fuel outlets in the main city in recent weeks, and the city's usually crowded streets have now allegedly become deserted.
The ruling military council had previously reassured the public that it was only a temporary issue, but the crisis has endured.
Last week, the United States diplomatic office in Bamako stated that non-critical embassy personnel and their relatives would depart the country amid the worsening energy crisis and growing security concerns.
It explained that the fuel disruptions had affected the energy availability and had the “potential to disrupt” the broader protection environment in unforeseen manners.
Mali is now led by a army council under the leadership of Gen Assimi GoĂŻta, who assumed authority in a takeover in 2021.
The ruling council had public backing when it took power, promising to tackle the ongoing instability caused by a separatist rebellion in the north by Tuareg communities, which was then co-opted by extremist groups.
The international UN troops and France's military had been stationed in a decade ago to combat the increasing militant activity.
These forces have departed since the junta took over, and the ruling council has employed Russian mercenaries to address the violence.
However, the Islamist rebellion has endured and large parts of the northern and eastern zones of the nation remain outside government control.
