Mali Closes Schools and Higher Education Centers as Islamist Militant Restrictions Intensifies Fuel Crisis

Long queues at petrol stations in Mali
Lengthy lines have been snaking around fuel pumps in the last few days

The landlocked West African country has suspended educational facilities and colleges across the nation due to a severe fuel scarcity resulting from a restriction on petroleum supplies implemented by Islamist insurgents.

The Education Minister announced on state television that all education institutions would remain closed until the ninth of November, clarifying that the transportation of personnel and pupils had been affected by the restrictions.

He asserted that the administration were “making every effort” to alleviate the situation so that academic sessions could continue on November 10th.

For a number of weeks, Mali has been grappling with a petrol crisis, particularly in the administrative center, after insurgents from an jihadist network enforced a restriction by striking tankers on major highways.

Mali is landlocked, so all fuel supplies are transported by road from neighboring states such as Senegal and the neighboring nation.

Extended lines have been winding around fuel outlets in the capital in the past few weeks, and the city's normally bustling streets have now allegedly become deserted.

The military government had in recent days reassured the public that it was only a passing concern, but the crisis has endured.

Recently, the American diplomatic mission in the capital announced that non-critical embassy personnel and their families would depart the country amid the intensifying energy crisis and increasing safety issues.

It said that the fuel disruptions had affected the supply of electricity and had the “potential to disrupt” the overall security situation in unexpected forms.

The West African nation is currently ruled by a army council headed by the military leader, who assumed authority in a takeover in recently.

The military government had public backing when it assumed control, committing to tackle the long-running security crisis prompted by a autonomy movement in the north by ethnic Tuaregs, which was then co-opted by extremist groups.

The international UN troops and France's military had been stationed in 2013 to address the increasing militant activity.

These forces have left since the junta took over, and the current administration has employed foreign fighters to address the instability.

Nonetheless, the jihadist insurgency has endured and extensive regions of the northern and eastern territories of the nation remain beyond state authority.

Charles Allen
Charles Allen

A tech journalist and digital strategist with over a decade of experience covering emerging technologies and their impact on business.