🔗 Share this article Mali Closes Schools and Universities as Jihadist Restrictions Worsens Fuel Shortage Extended lines have been forming around petrol stations in the past few weeks Mali has closed educational facilities and universities across the nation due to a acute fuel scarcity triggered by a restriction on energy resources imposed by militant groups. Top education official declared on national broadcast that all academic facilities would remain closed until November 9th, explaining that the travel of personnel and pupils had been affected by the restrictions. He asserted that the administration were “working tirelessly” to resolve the situation so that academic sessions could continue on 10 November. For weeks, the nation has been facing a petrol crisis, especially in the capital Bamako, after militants from an jihadist network enforced a embargo by attacking fuel trucks on key routes. The country is without coastal access, so all energy resources are delivered by road from bordering countries such as Senegal and the neighboring nation. Long queues have been forming around fuel outlets in Bamako in recent weeks, and the city's typically busy streets have now apparently become deserted. The junta-led administration had earlier this month promised the public that it was only a temporary issue, but the situation has continued. In the past few days, the American diplomatic mission in the capital declared that non-critical embassy personnel and their dependents would depart Mali amid the worsening fuel shortage and increasing security concerns. It said that the petroleum supply issues had affected the supply of electricity and had the “capacity to affect” the broader protection environment in unexpected forms. The West African nation is presently governed by a armed forces administration under the leadership of the military leader, who took control in a coup in two years ago. The military government had popular support when it took power, committing to address the protracted safety emergency triggered by a autonomy movement in the north by the Tuareg population, which was then hijacked by jihadist fighters. The UN peacekeeping mission and France's military had been stationed in a decade ago to address the increasing militant activity. These forces have withdrawn since the junta took over, and the ruling council has hired private military contractors to combat the instability. Nevertheless, the militant uprising has continued and large parts of the northern and eastern zones of the state remain outside government control.