Mali Closes Schools and Universities as Islamist Militant Blockade Intensifies Petrol Shortage
Mali has temporarily halted schools and universities countrywide due to a acute petrol shortage triggered by a embargo on fuel imports implemented by jihadist fighters.
Top education official announced on public media that all education institutions would be inactive until November 9th, clarifying that the transportation of personnel and learners had been disrupted by the imposed limitations.
He asserted that the government officials were “making every effort” to end the crisis so that classes could restart on 10 November.
For several weeks, the nation has been experiencing a fuel shortage, especially in the administrative center, after insurgents from an jihadist network enforced a restriction by attacking fuel trucks on key routes.
Mali is without coastal access, so all fuel supplies are transported by truck from adjacent nations such as Senegal and the neighboring nation.
Lengthy waits have been winding around fuel outlets in the capital in recent weeks, and the city's usually crowded streets have now reportedly fallen quiet.
The junta-led administration had earlier this month promised residents that it was only a short-term problem, but the crisis has endured.
Recently, the American diplomatic mission in the capital announced that secondary diplomatic employees and their relatives would evacuate the country amid the worsening fuel shortage and escalating protection worries.
It said that the petroleum supply issues had impacted the power distribution and had the “potential to disrupt” the broader protection environment in unexpected forms.
The West African nation is currently ruled by a armed forces administration led by General Goïta, who seized power in a coup in 2021.
The junta had public backing when it took power, promising to tackle the ongoing instability caused by a autonomy movement in the northern region by Tuareg communities, which was then co-opted by jihadist fighters.
The United Nations stabilization force and French forces had been stationed in 2013 to combat the escalating insurgency.
Both have left since the military assumed power, and the current administration has hired Russian mercenaries to address the insecurity.
Nonetheless, the Islamist rebellion has continued and extensive regions of the north and east of the nation remain not under administrative command.
