Mali Closes Schools and Higher Education Centers as Jihadist Restrictions Worsens Fuel Crisis
The landlocked West African country has closed educational facilities and colleges throughout the country due to a severe fuel scarcity caused by a restriction on energy resources implemented by jihadist fighters.
Top education official declared on state television that all education institutions would remain closed until November 9th, clarifying that the movement of employees and learners had been impacted by the blockade.
He emphasized that the authorities were “working tirelessly” to end the situation so that classes could continue on the tenth of November.
For a number of weeks, the nation has been grappling with a energy deficit, notably in the administrative center, after insurgents from an jihadist network imposed a blockade by attacking transport vehicles on major highways.
Mali is without coastal access, so all petroleum products are transported by road from adjacent nations such as Senegal and the neighboring nation.
Lengthy waits have been winding around fuel outlets in the capital in the past few weeks, and the city's normally bustling streets have now apparently fallen quiet.
The junta-led administration had previously assured citizens that it was only a passing concern, but the situation has continued.
Last week, the United States diplomatic office in Bamako declared that non-essential diplomatic staff and their relatives would depart the country amid the worsening energy crisis and escalating protection worries.
It noted that the energy interruptions had impacted the supply of electricity and had the “ability to disturb” the overall security situation in unforeseen manners.
Mali is currently ruled by a armed forces administration led by Gen Assimi Goïta, who assumed authority in a coup in two years ago.
The ruling council had public backing when it took power, promising to tackle the long-running security crisis prompted by a autonomy movement in the north by Tuareg communities, which was then taken over by jihadist fighters.
The United Nations stabilization force and French forces had been stationed in 2013 to deal with the increasing militant activity.
The international troops have withdrawn since the new administration came in, and the current administration has hired Russian mercenaries to tackle the instability.
Nonetheless, the jihadist insurgency has continued and significant areas of the north and east of the nation remain outside government control.
