Mali Shuts Down Schools and Universities as Jihadist Restrictions Exacerbates Fuel Emergency
Mali has suspended schools and higher learning institutions throughout the country due to a critical energy crisis caused by a blockade on energy resources implemented by jihadist fighters.
The Education Minister announced on state television that all learning centers would stay shut until November 9th, clarifying that the travel of employees and students had been impacted by the blockade.
He asserted that the authorities were “making every effort” to resolve the crisis so that academic sessions could continue on 10 November.
For several weeks, the nation has been grappling with a energy deficit, especially in the main city, after militants from an al-Qaeda-linked organization enforced a embargo by attacking tankers on key routes.
The country is without coastal access, so all petroleum products are brought in by road from adjacent nations such as its western neighbor and Côte d'Ivoire.
Extended lines have been snaking around petrol stations in the main city in the last several days, and the city's typically busy streets have now allegedly become deserted.
The ruling military council had previously reassured residents that it was only a temporary issue, but the situation has endured.
Last week, the American diplomatic mission in Bamako declared that secondary diplomatic employees and their dependents would depart the country amid the worsening petrol scarcity and escalating security concerns.
It noted that the fuel disruptions had impacted the energy availability and had the “capacity to affect” the general safety conditions in unpredictable ways.
Mali is currently ruled by a armed forces administration led by General Goïta, who assumed authority in a military overthrow in 2021.
The military government had public backing when it assumed control, committing to deal with the ongoing instability prompted by a independence uprising in the northern region by ethnic Tuaregs, which was then co-opted by Islamist militants.
The UN peacekeeping mission and French forces had been deployed in previously to address the increasing militant activity.
The international troops have left since the military assumed power, and the ruling council has contracted private military contractors to tackle the violence.
Nonetheless, the jihadist insurgency has continued and large parts of the north and east of the nation remain outside government control.