The West African nation Shuts Down Schools and Universities as Islamist Militant Restrictions Exacerbates Fuel Crisis

Long queues at petrol stations in Mali
Prolonged lines have been snaking around petrol stations in recent weeks

The landlocked West African country has suspended educational facilities and colleges throughout the country due to a severe energy crisis triggered by a embargo on fuel imports enforced by Islamist insurgents.

The Education Minister announced on public media that all learning centers would be inactive until November 9th, explaining that the transportation of staff and learners had been impacted by the restrictions.

He stated that the administration were “working tirelessly” to alleviate the situation so that classes could restart on 10 November.

For weeks, the nation has been experiencing a fuel shortage, particularly in the main city, after militants from an al-Qaeda-linked organization initiated a embargo by attacking transport vehicles on major highways.

The country is surrounded by land, so all petroleum products are brought in by land routes from neighboring states such as its western neighbor and Côte d'Ivoire.

Lengthy waits have been forming around gas pumps in the main city in the last several days, and the city's usually crowded streets have now allegedly fallen quiet.

The ruling military council had earlier this month promised residents that it was only a passing concern, but the emergency has endured.

Last week, the US Embassy in the capital declared that non-essential diplomatic staff and their relatives would evacuate the country amid the intensifying energy crisis and escalating protection worries.

It said that the petroleum supply issues had affected the power distribution and had the “capacity to affect” the broader protection environment in unpredictable ways.

The West African nation is now led by a army council headed by Gen Assimi Goïta, who seized power in a takeover in two years ago.

The ruling council had widespread approval when it assumed control, committing to address the long-running security crisis prompted by a independence uprising in the northern region by the Tuareg population, which was then taken over by jihadist fighters.

The United Nations stabilization force and France's military had been deployed in a decade ago to combat the increasing militant activity.

The international troops have left since the military assumed power, and the military government has hired foreign fighters to address the insecurity.

Nonetheless, the Islamist rebellion has persisted and extensive regions of the northern and eastern territories of the state remain outside government control.

Lori Adams
Lori Adams

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