🔗 Share this article Mali Suspends Educational Institutions and Higher Education Centers as Jihadist Restrictions Worsens Fuel Crisis Prolonged queues have been appearing around fuel pumps in recent weeks Mali has temporarily halted educational facilities and colleges throughout the country due to a severe fuel scarcity caused by a embargo on petroleum supplies enforced by militant groups. Minister of Education stated on state television that all education institutions would remain closed until 9 November, clarifying that the travel of staff and pupils had been affected by the restrictions. He emphasized that the authorities were “working tirelessly” to end the emergency so that academic sessions could continue on 10 November. For several weeks, the nation has been facing a energy deficit, notably in the administrative center, after insurgents from an jihadist network enforced a embargo by striking tankers on primary roads. Mali is without coastal access, so all petroleum products are transported by road from neighboring states such as its western neighbor and Ivory Coast. Long queues have been snaking around fuel outlets in the main city in recent weeks, and the city's usually crowded streets have now apparently become deserted. The junta-led administration had in recent days promised the public that it was only a temporary issue, but the crisis has persisted. Recently, the US Embassy in Bamako announced that non-critical embassy personnel and their dependents would depart the country amid the deteriorating petrol scarcity and increasing security concerns. It said that the energy interruptions had disrupted the supply of electricity and had the “capacity to affect” the broader protection environment in unpredictable ways. Mali is presently governed by a armed forces administration led by General Goïta, who seized power in a coup in 2021. The military government had public backing when it came to authority, promising to address the protracted safety emergency caused by a separatist rebellion in the northern region by Tuareg communities, which was then hijacked by extremist groups. The UN peacekeeping mission and French forces had been sent in previously to combat the increasing militant activity. The international troops have left since the military assumed power, and the ruling council has contracted foreign fighters to address the violence. However, the jihadist insurgency has endured and large parts of the northern and eastern zones of the state remain beyond state authority.