The West African nation Suspends Schools and Universities as Jihadist Blockade Exacerbates Fuel Shortage
Mali has suspended schools and universities countrywide due to a acute fuel scarcity caused by a blockade on fuel imports imposed by militant groups.
Minister of Education announced on public media that all learning centers would stay shut until 9 November, noting that the travel of employees and learners had been disrupted by the restrictions.
He stated that the government officials were “working tirelessly” to end the situation so that classes could continue on the tenth of November.
For weeks, the nation has been grappling with a petrol crisis, notably in the main city, after armed groups from an al-Qaeda-linked organization imposed a embargo by attacking fuel trucks on major highways.
The country is landlocked, so all energy resources are brought in by land routes from neighboring states such as Senegal and Ivory Coast.
Long queues have been snaking around fuel outlets in the main city in recent weeks, and the city's typically busy streets have now apparently grown silent.
The junta-led administration had in recent days assured citizens that it was only a temporary issue, but the situation has continued.
In the past few days, the US Embassy in Bamako declared that non-essential diplomatic staff and their dependents would depart the country amid the worsening energy crisis and increasing security concerns.
It said that the petroleum supply issues had affected the supply of electricity and had the “ability to disturb” the broader protection environment in unforeseen manners.
The West African nation is presently governed by a armed forces administration headed by Gen Assimi Goïta, who assumed authority in a coup in 2021.
The military government had public backing when it came to authority, committing to address the long-running security crisis prompted by a autonomy movement in the northern region by ethnic Tuaregs, which was then co-opted by jihadist fighters.
The United Nations stabilization force and European soldiers had been deployed in 2013 to address the increasing militant activity.
These forces have departed since the junta took over, and the ruling council has employed foreign fighters to tackle the instability.
Nevertheless, the Islamist rebellion has continued and extensive regions of the northern and eastern zones of the nation remain beyond state authority.
