The West African nation Closes Schools and Higher Education Centers as Jihadist Blockade Worsens Petrol Emergency

The landlocked West African country has temporarily halted schools and universities throughout the country due to a acute energy crisis caused by a embargo on fuel imports implemented by Islamist insurgents.

The Education Minister stated on state television that all academic facilities would remain closed until the ninth of November, explaining that the travel of personnel and learners had been disrupted by the restrictions.

He stated that the administration were “making every effort” to resolve the crisis so that classes could restart on 10 November.

For weeks, the nation has been facing a energy deficit, especially in the main city, after insurgents from an al-Qaeda-linked organization initiated a blockade by striking fuel trucks on key routes.

The country is surrounded by land, so all energy resources are transported by truck from neighboring states such as Senegal and Côte d'Ivoire.

Extended lines have been forming around petrol stations in Bamako in the last several days, and the city's normally bustling streets have now apparently become deserted.

The ruling military council had in recent days assured the public that it was only a passing concern, but the situation has endured.

Last week, the American diplomatic mission in the capital announced that non-critical embassy personnel and their families would evacuate Mali amid the intensifying fuel shortage and increasing security concerns.

It explained that the energy interruptions had disrupted the supply of electricity and had the “ability to disturb” the general safety conditions in unexpected forms.

The West African nation is presently governed by a army council led by Gen Assimi Goïta, who took control in a military overthrow in recently.

The military government had popular support when it took power, promising to tackle the ongoing instability caused by a independence uprising in the north by ethnic Tuaregs, which was then co-opted by jihadist fighters.

The United Nations stabilization force and French forces had been deployed in previously to combat the increasing militant activity.

These forces have departed since the military assumed power, and the ruling council has contracted Russian mercenaries to combat the insecurity.

Nevertheless, the Islamist rebellion has endured and significant areas of the north and east of the country remain beyond state authority.