🔗 Share this article Mali Closes Educational Institutions and Higher Education Centers as Islamist Militant Blockade Exacerbates Petrol Emergency Lengthy lines have been forming around petrol stations in the last few days The landlocked West African country has suspended schools and higher learning institutions across the nation due to a critical energy crisis caused by a embargo on fuel imports implemented by jihadist fighters. Minister of Education stated on national broadcast that all learning centers would be inactive until November 9th, noting that the movement of staff and students had been affected by the blockade. He asserted that the authorities were “working tirelessly” to resolve the situation so that academic sessions could continue on November 10th. For weeks, Mali has been experiencing a petrol crisis, particularly in the capital Bamako, after armed groups from an al-Qaeda-linked organization imposed a embargo by targeting transport vehicles on major highways. Mali is surrounded by land, so all energy resources are brought in by road from bordering countries such as Senegal and Ivory Coast. Lengthy waits have been winding around petrol stations in the main city in recent weeks, and the city's usually crowded streets have now apparently grown silent. The military government had earlier this month assured residents that it was only a short-term problem, but the situation has persisted. Last week, the US Embassy in Bamako declared that secondary diplomatic employees and their dependents would depart Mali amid the worsening energy crisis and escalating safety issues. It said that the petroleum supply issues had affected the supply of electricity and had the “ability to disturb” the overall security situation in unexpected forms. Mali is presently governed by a armed forces administration led by the military leader, who assumed authority in a takeover in recently. The ruling council had popular support when it took power, committing to address the ongoing instability triggered by a autonomy movement in the north by ethnic Tuaregs, which was then taken over by extremist groups. The United Nations stabilization force and European soldiers had been stationed in 2013 to combat the growing rebellion. These forces have departed since the new administration came in, and the military government has hired foreign fighters to address the instability. Nonetheless, the Islamist rebellion has continued and extensive regions of the northern and eastern zones of the nation remain not under administrative command.