The West African nation Shuts Down Schools and Higher Education Centers as Islamist Militant Restrictions Exacerbates Petrol Shortage

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

The landlocked West African country has temporarily halted educational facilities and universities countrywide due to a severe petrol shortage caused by a blockade on petroleum supplies enforced by jihadist fighters.

Minister of Education announced on national broadcast that all learning centers would remain closed until the ninth of November, noting that the transportation of staff and learners had been affected by the restrictions.

He stated that the administration were “working tirelessly” to end the crisis so that classes could continue on November 10th.

For several weeks, the nation has been experiencing a fuel shortage, notably in the administrative center, after insurgents from an al-Qaeda affiliate enforced a blockade by targeting tankers on key routes.

The country is without coastal access, so all petroleum products are transported by truck from neighboring states such as its western neighbor and the neighboring nation.

Lengthy waits have been forming around fuel outlets in the capital in the last several days, and the city's typically busy streets have now reportedly fallen quiet.

The junta-led administration had previously promised residents that it was only a passing concern, but the crisis has persisted.

In the past few days, the American diplomatic mission in Bamako stated that non-essential diplomatic staff and their dependents would depart the country amid the intensifying petrol scarcity and increasing security concerns.

It said that the energy interruptions had disrupted the energy availability and had the “capacity to affect” the general safety conditions in unpredictable ways.

The West African nation is currently ruled by a armed forces administration headed by General Goïta, who assumed authority in a takeover in recently.

The junta had public backing when it came to authority, committing to tackle the long-running security crisis prompted by a autonomy movement in the northern region by ethnic Tuaregs, which was then co-opted by Islamist militants.

The UN peacekeeping mission and French forces had been stationed in 2013 to deal with the escalating insurgency.

The international troops have departed since the military assumed power, and the military government has employed private military contractors to tackle the instability.

Nonetheless, the jihadist insurgency has continued and large parts of the northern and eastern territories of the state remain not under administrative command.

Juan Wilson
Juan Wilson

Lena is a passionate gamer and tech journalist with over a decade of experience covering the gaming industry and reviewing new releases.