The West African nation Closes Schools and Higher Education Centers as Islamist Militant Blockade Exacerbates Fuel Crisis

The landlocked West African country has suspended schools and higher learning institutions throughout the country due to a severe petrol shortage caused by a blockade on petroleum supplies imposed by jihadist fighters.

Top education official declared on state television that all academic facilities would stay shut until November 9th, clarifying that the travel of staff and pupils had been affected by the restrictions.

He asserted that the authorities were “working tirelessly” to end the situation so that classes could restart on November 10th.

For weeks, the nation has been facing a fuel shortage, especially in the capital Bamako, after militants from an al-Qaeda-linked organization initiated a embargo by attacking tankers on key routes.

Mali is surrounded by land, so all energy resources are brought in by road from adjacent nations such as Senegal and Ivory Coast.

Lengthy waits have been forming around petrol stations in the main city in the last several days, and the city's normally bustling streets have now apparently grown silent.

The military government had earlier this month promised citizens that it was only a passing concern, but the situation has continued.

In the past few days, the US Embassy in Bamako announced that secondary diplomatic employees and their relatives would leave the country amid the worsening fuel shortage and increasing security concerns.

It said that the petroleum supply issues had affected the power distribution and had the “potential to disrupt” the general safety conditions in unexpected forms.

The West African nation is currently ruled by a military junta led by Gen Assimi Goïta, who seized power in a military overthrow in 2021.

The military government had public backing when it assumed control, vowing to address the long-running security crisis caused by a separatist rebellion in the north by the Tuareg population, which was then taken over by extremist groups.

The United Nations stabilization force and European soldiers had been sent in a decade ago to combat the increasing militant activity.

These forces have departed since the junta took over, and the military government has contracted foreign fighters to tackle the instability.

Nevertheless, the jihadist insurgency has continued and large parts of the northern and eastern zones of the state remain beyond state authority.