The West African nation Shuts Down Schools and Universities as Jihadist Restrictions Exacerbates Petrol Emergency

Long queues at petrol stations in Mali
Prolonged lines have been appearing around gas stations in the past few weeks

Mali has suspended schools and colleges throughout the country due to a acute petrol shortage triggered by a blockade on energy resources enforced by militant groups.

Minister of Education stated on public media that all academic facilities would remain closed until November 9th, clarifying that the movement of personnel and pupils had been impacted by the restrictions.

He emphasized that the authorities were “doing everything possible” to resolve the situation so that educational activities could continue on the tenth of November.

For several weeks, Mali has been facing a petrol crisis, notably in the administrative center, after insurgents from an al-Qaeda affiliate imposed a restriction by attacking tankers on key routes.

Mali is landlocked, so all energy resources are transported by land routes from bordering countries such as its western neighbor and Ivory Coast.

Long queues have been winding around petrol stations in Bamako in the last several days, and the city's typically busy streets have now reportedly become deserted.

The military government had earlier this month assured the public that it was only a temporary issue, but the crisis has endured.

Last week, the US Embassy in the capital stated that secondary diplomatic employees and their families would evacuate the country amid the worsening fuel shortage and escalating safety issues.

It explained that the fuel disruptions had disrupted the supply of electricity and had the “potential to disrupt” the general safety conditions in unexpected forms.

The West African nation is presently governed by a military junta under the leadership of General Goïta, who took control in a takeover in recently.

The military government had widespread approval when it assumed control, committing to deal with the ongoing instability caused by a separatist rebellion in the north by ethnic Tuaregs, which was then co-opted by extremist groups.

The UN peacekeeping mission and European soldiers had been deployed in a decade ago to combat the increasing militant activity.

The international troops have withdrawn since the junta took over, and the military government has contracted foreign fighters to tackle the violence.

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

Cole Johnson
Cole Johnson

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