🔗 Share this article Mali Closes Educational Institutions and Universities as Islamist Militant Restrictions Worsens Fuel Shortage Prolonged lines have been snaking around fuel pumps in the last few days Mali has suspended schools and higher learning institutions across the nation due to a acute petrol shortage triggered by a restriction on fuel imports imposed by jihadist fighters. Top education official stated on public media that all education institutions would be inactive until 9 November, noting that the travel of employees and students had been disrupted by the imposed limitations. He asserted that the administration were “doing everything possible” to end the crisis so that classes could resume on the tenth of November. For several weeks, Mali has been facing a energy deficit, notably in the capital Bamako, after insurgents from an al-Qaeda affiliate initiated a embargo by attacking fuel trucks on primary roads. Mali is without coastal access, so all petroleum products are brought in by land routes from bordering countries such as its western neighbor and Ivory Coast. Extended lines have been winding around gas pumps in the capital in recent weeks, and the city's usually crowded streets have now apparently grown silent. The military government had earlier this month assured the public that it was only a short-term problem, but the situation has continued. Last week, the American diplomatic mission in Bamako declared that non-essential diplomatic staff and their families would depart Mali amid the deteriorating petrol scarcity and increasing security concerns. It said that the fuel disruptions had impacted the power distribution and had the “potential to disrupt” the overall security situation in unpredictable ways. Mali is currently ruled by a military junta under the leadership of the military leader, who assumed authority in a takeover in recently. The ruling council had popular support when it came to authority, committing to deal with the long-running security crisis caused by a independence uprising in the northern territories by Tuareg communities, which was then taken over by extremist groups. The UN peacekeeping mission and French forces had been stationed in previously to address the growing rebellion. The international troops have departed since the military assumed power, and the military government has hired private military contractors to combat the instability. However, the militant uprising has persisted and large parts of the northern and eastern zones of the state remain not under administrative command.