🔗 Share this article The West African nation Suspends Educational Institutions and Higher Education Centers as Jihadist Blockade Exacerbates Petrol Crisis Extended lines have been snaking around gas stations in the past few weeks The landlocked West African country has suspended educational facilities and higher learning institutions throughout the country due to a critical fuel scarcity caused by a blockade on energy resources implemented by militant groups. The Education Minister announced on public media that all academic facilities would remain closed until November 9th, clarifying that the transportation of personnel and pupils had been affected by the restrictions. He stated that the administration were “working tirelessly” to end the crisis so that academic sessions could restart on the tenth of November. For several weeks, the nation has been grappling with a petrol crisis, particularly in the capital Bamako, after armed groups from an jihadist network imposed a embargo by attacking fuel trucks on key routes. Mali is without coastal access, so all petroleum products are transported by land routes from neighboring states such as Senegal and the neighboring nation. Lengthy waits have been winding around gas pumps in the capital in the past few weeks, and the city's normally bustling streets have now reportedly fallen quiet. The ruling military council had previously assured the public that it was only a short-term problem, but the crisis has continued. Recently, the US Embassy in Bamako declared that secondary diplomatic employees and their families would depart Mali amid the intensifying petrol scarcity and growing protection worries. It noted that the fuel disruptions had affected the supply of electricity and had the “potential to disrupt” the overall security situation in unpredictable ways. Mali is currently ruled by a army council headed by General Goïta, who took control in a takeover in 2021. The military government had widespread approval when it assumed control, committing to tackle the long-running security crisis caused by a separatist rebellion in the northern region by Tuareg communities, which was then hijacked by jihadist fighters. The UN peacekeeping mission and European soldiers had been stationed in a decade ago to address the growing rebellion. Both have left since the junta took over, and the ruling council has contracted private military contractors to tackle the instability. Nonetheless, the jihadist insurgency has persisted and significant areas of the north and east of the nation remain outside government control.