The West African nation Closes Schools and Universities as Jihadist Blockade Worsens Fuel Shortage
Mali has closed educational facilities and universities countrywide due to a critical fuel scarcity triggered by a blockade on energy resources imposed by Islamist insurgents.
Top education official declared on state television that all learning centers would remain closed until November 9th, noting that the movement of staff and learners had been disrupted by the imposed limitations.
He stated that the government officials were “doing everything possible” to resolve the situation so that classes could resume on November 10th.
For a number of weeks, Mali has been grappling with a fuel shortage, particularly in the capital Bamako, after armed groups from an jihadist network imposed a restriction by striking tankers on major highways.
The country is landlocked, so all fuel supplies are transported by truck from bordering countries such as Senegal and CĂ´te d'Ivoire.
Extended lines have been winding around petrol stations in the capital in recent weeks, and the city's usually crowded streets have now reportedly become deserted.
The military government had earlier this month assured residents that it was only a short-term problem, but the situation has endured.
In the past few days, the American diplomatic mission in Bamako announced that non-essential diplomatic staff and their dependents would evacuate Mali amid the deteriorating energy crisis and increasing security concerns.
It explained that the petroleum supply issues had affected the energy availability and had the “capacity to affect” the broader protection environment in unexpected forms.
Mali is now led by a military junta under the leadership of the military leader, who took control in a coup in 2021.
The military government had popular support when it assumed control, vowing to address the long-running security crisis triggered by a autonomy movement in the northern territories by Tuareg communities, which was then hijacked by jihadist fighters.
The international UN troops and French forces had been stationed in 2013 to deal with the increasing militant activity.
The international troops have withdrawn since the junta took over, and the military government has contracted Russian mercenaries to address the violence.
Nevertheless, the jihadist insurgency has persisted and extensive regions of the north and east of the nation remain outside government control.
