Mali Shuts Down Schools and Universities as Islamist Militant Blockade Exacerbates Petrol Emergency
Mali has closed schools and higher learning institutions throughout the country due to a acute energy crisis triggered by a blockade on petroleum supplies implemented by jihadist fighters.
The Education Minister announced on national broadcast that all academic facilities would remain closed until 9 November, clarifying that the travel of staff and pupils had been affected by the imposed limitations.
He emphasized that the administration were “doing everything possible” to resolve the situation so that classes could resume on 10 November.
For several weeks, the nation has been facing a energy deficit, particularly in the main city, after militants from an jihadist network enforced a blockade by attacking tankers on primary roads.
Mali is without coastal access, so all energy resources are delivered by road from neighboring states such as its western neighbor and Côte d'Ivoire.
Lengthy waits have been winding around fuel outlets in the capital in recent weeks, and the city's normally bustling streets have now allegedly become deserted.
The junta-led administration had in recent days reassured residents that it was only a temporary issue, but the situation has endured.
Recently, the American diplomatic mission in Bamako announced that non-essential diplomatic staff and their dependents would leave the country amid the intensifying energy crisis and increasing security concerns.
It explained that the fuel disruptions had impacted the power distribution and had the “potential to disrupt” the broader protection environment in unexpected forms.
Mali is now led by a military junta under the leadership of General Goïta, who took control in a takeover in two years ago.
The military government had popular support when it came to authority, promising to tackle the long-running security crisis caused by a separatist rebellion in the north by Tuareg communities, which was then hijacked by jihadist fighters.
The international UN troops and France's military had been deployed in previously to deal with the growing rebellion.
These forces have departed since the junta took over, and the ruling council has hired private military contractors to combat the insecurity.
Nonetheless, the militant uprising has continued and large parts of the northern and eastern zones of the country remain outside government control.