Mali Closes Educational Institutions and Higher Education Centers as Jihadist Restrictions Intensifies Fuel Crisis
Mali has suspended educational facilities and universities countrywide due to a severe energy crisis triggered by a restriction on energy resources imposed by militant groups.
The Education Minister stated on state television that all academic facilities would remain closed until the ninth of November, clarifying that the transportation of employees and students had been affected by the restrictions.
He stated that the government officials were “doing everything possible” to resolve the situation so that educational activities could continue on the tenth of November.
For several weeks, Mali has been grappling with a fuel shortage, notably in the administrative center, after militants from an jihadist network imposed a blockade by attacking tankers on primary roads.
Mali is surrounded by land, so all petroleum products are delivered by road from neighboring states such as its western neighbor and Côte d'Ivoire.
Long queues have been snaking around fuel outlets in the main city in recent weeks, and the city's usually crowded streets have now reportedly become deserted.
The ruling military council had earlier this month reassured citizens that it was only a passing concern, but the situation has continued.
Last week, the US Embassy in the capital stated that non-essential diplomatic staff and their relatives would depart the country amid the deteriorating energy crisis and escalating protection worries.
It explained that the petroleum supply issues had impacted the power distribution and had the “ability to disturb” the broader protection environment in unpredictable ways.
The West African nation is currently ruled by a armed forces administration led by the military leader, who took control in a military overthrow in recently.
The military government had popular support when it took power, promising to deal with the protracted safety emergency prompted by a autonomy movement in the northern territories by the Tuareg population, which was then hijacked by extremist groups.
The UN peacekeeping mission and French forces had been deployed in previously to deal with the increasing militant activity.
These forces have departed since the junta took over, and the ruling council has hired foreign fighters to tackle the instability.
Nonetheless, the militant uprising has persisted and extensive regions of the northern and eastern territories of the nation remain outside government control.