🔗 Share this article The West African nation Closes Educational Institutions and Universities as Islamist Militant Restrictions Worsens Petrol Crisis Prolonged lines have been forming around petrol stations in the last few days Mali has closed educational facilities and colleges throughout the country due to a severe energy crisis resulting from a blockade on petroleum supplies implemented by militant groups. Minister of Education stated on state television that all academic facilities would remain closed until November 9th, explaining that the movement of personnel and pupils had been affected by the restrictions. He emphasized that the administration were “working tirelessly” to resolve the situation so that academic sessions could restart on November 10th. For several weeks, Mali has been facing a petrol crisis, particularly in the main city, after armed groups from an jihadist network imposed a embargo by attacking fuel trucks on primary roads. Mali is surrounded by land, so all fuel supplies are transported by land routes from neighboring states such as Senegal and Côte d'Ivoire. Long queues have been snaking around fuel outlets in Bamako in recent weeks, and the city's usually crowded streets have now reportedly become deserted. The ruling military council had previously reassured citizens that it was only a short-term problem, but the emergency has continued. In the past few days, the United States diplomatic office in Bamako stated that non-critical embassy personnel and their relatives would evacuate Mali amid the intensifying fuel shortage and increasing security concerns. It said that the fuel disruptions had impacted the supply of electricity and had the “ability to disturb” the overall security situation in unexpected forms. Mali is now led by a army council led by Gen Assimi Goïta, who seized power in a takeover in recently. The ruling council had widespread approval when it assumed control, vowing to address the protracted safety emergency prompted by a independence uprising in the northern region by Tuareg communities, which was then co-opted by extremist groups. The United Nations stabilization force and European soldiers had been deployed in a decade ago to address the growing rebellion. Both have departed since the new administration came in, and the current administration has employed Russian mercenaries to tackle the instability. However, the jihadist insurgency has endured and large parts of the northern and eastern territories of the country remain not under administrative command.