The West African nation Closes Educational Institutions and Universities as Jihadist Restrictions Exacerbates Fuel Crisis
The landlocked West African country has suspended educational facilities and universities throughout the country due to a critical energy crisis caused by a restriction on fuel imports implemented by militant groups.
Top education official declared on public media that all learning centers would remain closed until November 9th, clarifying that the movement of personnel and pupils had been impacted by the imposed limitations.
He asserted that the administration were “working tirelessly” to end the situation so that classes could resume on 10 November.
For weeks, Mali has been facing a fuel shortage, notably in the administrative center, after militants from an al-Qaeda affiliate imposed a blockade by targeting transport vehicles on primary roads.
Mali is landlocked, so all energy resources are delivered by truck from bordering countries such as its western neighbor and the neighboring nation.
Extended lines have been snaking around fuel outlets in the main city in the past few weeks, and the city's usually crowded streets have now allegedly become deserted.
The ruling military council had previously reassured residents that it was only a temporary issue, but the crisis has continued.
In the past few days, the US Embassy in Bamako stated that non-essential diplomatic staff and their families would evacuate Mali amid the intensifying energy crisis and growing security concerns.
It noted that the energy interruptions had impacted the energy availability and had the “ability to disturb” the overall security situation in unforeseen manners.
Mali is presently governed by a military junta led by General Goïta, who assumed authority in a coup in two years ago.
The military government had widespread approval when it assumed control, promising to tackle the protracted safety emergency prompted by a autonomy movement in the northern territories by the Tuareg population, which was then hijacked by Islamist militants.
The United Nations stabilization force and European soldiers had been sent in 2013 to combat the escalating insurgency.
The international troops have left since the junta took over, and the ruling council has employed Russian mercenaries to tackle the violence.
However, the Islamist rebellion has endured and extensive regions of the north and east of the country remain beyond state authority.
