Mali Shuts Down Schools and Universities as Jihadist Restrictions Exacerbates Petrol Emergency

Long queues at petrol stations in Mali
Lengthy queues have been snaking around fuel pumps in the past few weeks

The landlocked West African country has suspended educational facilities and universities across the nation due to a severe energy crisis triggered by a embargo on fuel imports implemented by Islamist insurgents.

The Education Minister announced on national broadcast that all education institutions would stay shut until 9 November, noting that the transportation of employees and learners had been affected by the restrictions.

He stated that the government officials were “making every effort” to resolve the situation so that academic sessions could continue on the tenth of November.

For several weeks, the nation has been experiencing a energy deficit, particularly in the capital Bamako, after armed groups from an jihadist network enforced a embargo by striking tankers on primary roads.

Mali is surrounded by land, so all petroleum products are delivered by truck from neighboring states such as its western neighbor and the neighboring nation.

Extended lines have been winding around fuel outlets in the main city in the past few weeks, and the city's usually crowded streets have now apparently become deserted.

The military government had previously reassured the public that it was only a passing concern, but the situation has endured.

Last week, the United States diplomatic office in Bamako announced that non-essential diplomatic staff and their dependents would depart the country amid the worsening fuel shortage and escalating safety issues.

It noted that the fuel disruptions had affected the supply of electricity and had the “potential to disrupt” the broader protection environment in unforeseen manners.

The West African nation is now led by a military junta under the leadership of General Goïta, who took control in a takeover in two years ago.

The military government had widespread approval when it came to authority, promising to address the ongoing instability caused by a autonomy movement in the northern region by the Tuareg population, which was then taken over by jihadist fighters.

The UN peacekeeping mission and France's military had been stationed in a decade ago to combat the growing rebellion.

Both have left since the junta took over, and the current administration has employed foreign fighters to combat the instability.

Nonetheless, the jihadist insurgency has persisted and large parts of the north and east of the nation remain outside government control.

Colin Knight
Colin Knight

A tech journalist and digital strategist with over a decade of experience covering emerging technologies and cybersecurity trends.