🔗 Share this article The West African nation Suspends Educational Institutions and Universities as Jihadist Blockade Exacerbates Fuel Emergency Extended queues have been forming around gas stations in the last few days Mali has suspended schools and colleges countrywide due to a critical fuel scarcity resulting from a embargo on petroleum supplies implemented by jihadist fighters. Minister of Education stated on national broadcast that all education institutions would remain closed until November 9th, explaining that the transportation of staff and learners had been disrupted by the restrictions. He emphasized that the administration were “making every effort” to end the emergency so that educational activities could resume on the tenth of November. For several weeks, the nation has been grappling with a petrol crisis, especially in the administrative center, after insurgents from an al-Qaeda-linked organization enforced a restriction by striking tankers on major highways. The country is surrounded by land, so all fuel supplies are brought in by road from bordering countries such as Senegal and Ivory Coast. Long queues have been forming around fuel outlets in Bamako in the last several days, and the city's normally bustling streets have now allegedly grown silent. The junta-led administration had in recent days reassured citizens that it was only a short-term problem, but the emergency has endured. Last week, the US Embassy in Bamako declared that non-critical embassy personnel and their dependents would depart the country amid the intensifying fuel shortage and increasing safety issues. It said that the petroleum supply issues had disrupted the supply of electricity and had the “capacity to affect” the overall security situation in unforeseen manners. Mali is currently ruled by a armed forces administration led by the military leader, who seized power in a coup in 2021. The junta had popular support when it assumed control, committing to deal with the protracted safety emergency prompted by a autonomy movement in the northern territories by Tuareg communities, which was then co-opted by jihadist fighters. The UN peacekeeping mission and French forces had been sent in a decade ago to combat the increasing militant activity. Both have withdrawn since the new administration came in, and the ruling council has contracted private military contractors to tackle the violence. However, the Islamist rebellion has persisted and significant areas of the northern and eastern zones of the state remain beyond state authority.