Mali Suspends Educational Institutions and Universities as Islamist Militant Blockade Exacerbates Petrol Emergency
The landlocked West African country has temporarily halted schools and universities across the nation due to a severe energy crisis resulting from a embargo on energy resources implemented by militant groups.
Minister of Education announced on national broadcast that all education institutions would stay shut until the ninth of November, explaining that the transportation of staff and pupils had been disrupted by the imposed limitations.
He stated that the government officials were “making every effort” to alleviate the situation so that classes could continue on November 10th.
For a number of weeks, Mali has been facing a energy deficit, particularly in the main city, after insurgents from an jihadist network imposed a restriction by striking tankers on key routes.
Mali is surrounded by land, so all fuel supplies are brought in by truck from bordering countries such as Senegal and the neighboring nation.
Long queues have been winding around fuel outlets in the capital in the last several days, 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 persisted.
In the past few days, the United States diplomatic office in Bamako stated that non-critical embassy personnel and their relatives would depart Mali amid the deteriorating petrol scarcity and escalating security concerns.
It explained that the petroleum supply issues had disrupted the supply of electricity and had the “ability to disturb” the general safety conditions in unexpected forms.
Mali is currently ruled by a military junta led by Gen Assimi Goïta, who assumed authority in a coup in recently.
The military government had public backing when it took power, vowing to deal with the protracted safety emergency triggered by a autonomy movement in the north by Tuareg communities, which was then taken over by jihadist fighters.
The UN peacekeeping mission and French forces had been deployed in previously to combat the increasing militant activity.
The international troops have withdrawn since the junta took over, and the military government has employed Russian mercenaries to tackle the violence.
Nevertheless, the Islamist rebellion has endured and large parts of the northern and eastern territories of the state remain not under administrative command.