Mali Closes Educational Institutions and Higher Education Centers as Islamist Militant Blockade Intensifies Fuel Crisis

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

Mali has temporarily halted educational facilities and colleges countrywide due to a severe fuel scarcity caused by a restriction on energy resources implemented by militant groups.

Minister of Education announced on state television that all academic facilities would remain closed until 9 November, clarifying that the movement of personnel and pupils had been disrupted by the restrictions.

He stated that the authorities were “working tirelessly” to alleviate the situation so that academic sessions could resume on the tenth of November.

For weeks, the nation has been experiencing a energy deficit, especially in the administrative center, after armed groups from an jihadist network imposed a restriction by targeting transport vehicles on primary roads.

The country is surrounded by land, so all petroleum products are delivered by road from adjacent nations such as its western neighbor and the neighboring nation.

Extended lines have been winding around petrol stations in the capital in the past few weeks, and the city's normally bustling streets have now allegedly become deserted.

The military government had earlier this month promised residents that it was only a short-term problem, but the situation has persisted.

Last week, the American diplomatic mission in the capital stated that non-essential diplomatic staff and their families would depart the country amid the worsening energy crisis and increasing protection worries.

It noted that the petroleum supply issues had affected the supply of electricity and had the “capacity to affect” the broader protection environment in unforeseen manners.

Mali is presently governed by a armed forces administration headed by the military leader, who took control in a coup in recently.

The military government had widespread approval when it assumed control, vowing to tackle the ongoing instability caused by a separatist rebellion in the northern region by Tuareg communities, which was then taken over by Islamist militants.

The UN peacekeeping mission and France's military had been sent in previously to deal with the growing rebellion.

Both have withdrawn since the new administration came in, and the current administration has employed private military contractors to tackle the instability.

However, the jihadist insurgency has continued and significant areas of the north and east of the state remain not under administrative command.

Helen Tucker
Helen Tucker

Elara is a historian and leadership coach with over a decade of experience in guiding individuals through transformative strategic journeys.