The West African nation Shuts Down Educational Institutions and Universities as Jihadist Restrictions Worsens Fuel Shortage

Long queues at petrol stations in Mali
Prolonged queues have been appearing around fuel pumps in recent weeks

Mali has closed educational facilities and colleges throughout the country due to a severe petrol shortage resulting from a restriction on energy resources imposed by militant groups.

The Education Minister announced on public media that all learning centers would stay shut until November 9th, clarifying that the movement of employees and pupils had been disrupted by the blockade.

He asserted that the administration were “working tirelessly” to end the situation so that classes could restart on the tenth of November.

For a number of weeks, the nation has been experiencing a fuel shortage, especially in the capital Bamako, after armed groups from an al-Qaeda affiliate initiated a embargo by targeting tankers on key routes.

The country is without coastal access, so all energy resources are transported by land routes from bordering countries such as Senegal and the neighboring nation.

Lengthy waits have been snaking around gas pumps in Bamako in the last several days, and the city's normally bustling streets have now apparently become deserted.

The ruling military council had previously reassured the public that it was only a short-term problem, but the situation has endured.

Recently, the United States diplomatic office in the capital announced that non-critical embassy personnel and their families would depart the country amid the worsening fuel shortage and growing protection worries.

It explained that the petroleum supply issues had affected the energy availability and had the “capacity to affect” the broader protection environment in unpredictable ways.

Mali is presently governed by a armed forces administration led by the military leader, who took control in a coup in recently.

The military government had popular support when it came to authority, vowing to tackle the long-running security crisis prompted by a independence uprising in the northern region by Tuareg communities, which was then co-opted by Islamist militants.

The United Nations stabilization force and France's military had been stationed in 2013 to address the escalating insurgency.

These forces have withdrawn since the junta took over, and the ruling council has employed Russian mercenaries to tackle the instability.

However, the jihadist insurgency has endured and large parts of the northern and eastern territories of the country remain beyond state authority.

Steven Marquez
Steven Marquez

Former casino manager turned gaming analyst, specializing in slot machine mechanics and responsible gambling practices.