Mali Closes Schools and Universities as Islamist Militant Blockade Worsens Petrol Emergency
The landlocked West African country has closed schools and higher learning institutions throughout the country due to a critical petrol shortage caused by a blockade on petroleum supplies implemented by militant groups.
Top education official stated on state television that all learning centers would remain closed until November 9th, explaining that the movement of employees and pupils had been disrupted by the imposed limitations.
He stated that the authorities were “making every effort” to resolve the emergency so that educational activities could continue on 10 November.
For a number of weeks, Mali has been facing a energy deficit, particularly in the capital Bamako, after militants from an jihadist network imposed a restriction by striking transport vehicles on primary roads.
The country is surrounded by land, so all petroleum products are delivered by road from bordering countries such as its western neighbor and Côte d'Ivoire.
Long queues have been winding around fuel outlets in the capital in the last several days, and the city's usually crowded streets have now apparently grown silent.
The ruling military council had earlier this month assured the public that it was only a passing concern, but the emergency has persisted.
Last week, the US Embassy in the capital declared that non-critical embassy personnel and their dependents would depart Mali amid the deteriorating energy crisis and growing protection worries.
It said that the petroleum supply issues had impacted the power distribution and had the “ability to disturb” the general safety conditions in unpredictable ways.
The West African nation is currently ruled by a military junta led by Gen Assimi Goïta, who seized power in a military overthrow in two years ago.
The junta had public backing when it assumed control, vowing to tackle the ongoing instability triggered by a autonomy movement in the north by ethnic Tuaregs, which was then taken over by jihadist fighters.
The UN peacekeeping mission and French forces had been stationed in 2013 to deal with the growing rebellion.
The international troops have withdrawn since the new administration came in, and the current administration has contracted private military contractors to combat the insecurity.
Nevertheless, the Islamist rebellion has endured and significant areas of the northern and eastern territories of the nation remain beyond state authority.
