Mali Shuts Down Schools and Universities as Jihadist Blockade Worsens Petrol Crisis

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

The landlocked West African country has suspended schools and universities throughout the country due to a acute petrol shortage triggered by a embargo on petroleum supplies imposed by militant groups.

Minister of Education announced on public media that all education institutions would stay shut until November 9th, clarifying that the travel of personnel and learners had been disrupted by the blockade.

He asserted that the authorities were “doing everything possible” to end the emergency so that classes could continue on the tenth of November.

For a number of weeks, the nation has been facing a fuel shortage, notably in the main city, after armed groups from an al-Qaeda-linked organization initiated a blockade by striking fuel trucks on primary roads.

The country is surrounded by land, so all energy resources are transported by truck from neighboring states such as Senegal and Ivory Coast.

Long queues have been winding around gas pumps in the main city in recent weeks, and the city's normally bustling streets have now allegedly grown silent.

The junta-led administration had earlier this month reassured residents that it was only a short-term problem, but the situation has endured.

Recently, the American diplomatic mission in the capital stated that non-critical embassy personnel and their families would depart the country amid the worsening energy crisis and increasing security concerns.

It explained that the fuel disruptions had impacted the supply of electricity and had the “potential to disrupt” the broader protection environment in unexpected forms.

Mali is presently governed by a military junta under the leadership of the military leader, who assumed authority in a military overthrow in 2021.

The junta had widespread approval when it came to authority, promising to address the protracted safety emergency caused by a independence uprising in the north by the Tuareg population, which was then hijacked by extremist groups.

The UN peacekeeping mission and French forces had been deployed in previously to deal with the increasing militant activity.

Both have departed since the military assumed power, and the ruling council has hired Russian mercenaries to combat the insecurity.

Nonetheless, the Islamist rebellion has endured and extensive regions of the northern and eastern zones of the nation remain outside government control.

Stephanie Perez
Stephanie Perez

A seasoned gaming journalist with over a decade of experience covering casino trends and strategies.