Mali Closes Schools and Universities as Islamist Militant Restrictions Exacerbates Fuel Shortage

Long queues at petrol stations in Mali
Extended lines have been forming around petrol stations in the past few weeks

The landlocked West African country has temporarily halted educational facilities and higher learning institutions across the nation due to a acute energy crisis resulting from a restriction on fuel imports enforced by jihadist fighters.

Top education official declared on public media that all education institutions would stay shut until the ninth of November, explaining that the transportation of employees and pupils had been affected by the blockade.

He stated that the government officials were “doing everything possible” to resolve the situation so that academic sessions could restart on 10 November.

For a number of weeks, the nation has been facing a petrol crisis, notably in the capital Bamako, after insurgents from an jihadist network enforced a embargo by attacking tankers on major highways.

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

Lengthy waits have been forming around petrol stations in the main city in recent weeks, and the city's usually crowded streets have now allegedly become deserted.

The junta-led administration had in recent days assured residents that it was only a short-term problem, but the situation has continued.

Last week, the United States diplomatic office in the capital stated that non-essential diplomatic staff and their dependents would depart Mali amid the worsening fuel shortage and increasing security concerns.

It noted that the fuel disruptions had affected the energy availability and had the “ability to disturb” the general safety conditions in unexpected forms.

The West African nation is now led by a armed forces administration under the leadership of the military leader, who took control in a takeover in recently.

The junta had popular support when it assumed control, committing to tackle the long-running security crisis triggered by a independence uprising in the northern territories by ethnic Tuaregs, which was then co-opted by extremist groups.

The UN peacekeeping mission and France's military had been sent in a decade ago to address the escalating insurgency.

These forces have left since the new administration came in, and the ruling council has hired private military contractors to combat the insecurity.

Nevertheless, the Islamist rebellion has endured and large parts of the northern and eastern territories of the nation remain not under administrative command.

Amber Vargas
Amber Vargas

A tech strategist with over a decade in digital innovation, specializing in AI integration and startup growth.