🔗 Share this article Mali Suspends Educational Institutions and Higher Education Centers as Islamist Militant Restrictions Worsens Petrol Shortage Prolonged queues have been forming around petrol stations in the past few weeks Mali has closed schools and higher learning institutions throughout the country due to a critical energy crisis triggered by a restriction on fuel imports enforced by militant groups. Top education official announced on national broadcast that all academic facilities would remain closed until 9 November, noting that the travel of personnel and students had been impacted by the imposed limitations. He asserted that the administration were “doing everything possible” to resolve the situation so that classes could restart on November 10th. For a number of weeks, Mali has been facing a petrol crisis, especially in the capital Bamako, after armed groups from an al-Qaeda affiliate imposed a restriction by targeting fuel trucks on primary roads. The country is landlocked, so all petroleum products are transported by land routes from bordering countries such as Senegal and Côte d'Ivoire. Long queues have been forming around fuel outlets in the capital in the last several days, and the city's usually crowded streets have now reportedly become deserted. The ruling military council had earlier this month reassured residents that it was only a short-term problem, but the situation has endured. In the past few days, the US Embassy in Bamako announced that secondary diplomatic employees and their families would evacuate the country amid the deteriorating energy crisis and increasing security concerns. It explained that the petroleum supply issues had impacted the supply of electricity and had the “ability to disturb” the general safety conditions in unexpected forms. The West African nation is presently governed by a armed forces administration led by the military leader, who seized power in a takeover in recently. The ruling council had public backing when it came to authority, committing to tackle the long-running security crisis caused by a autonomy movement in the north by Tuareg communities, which was then co-opted by jihadist fighters. The United Nations stabilization force and French forces had been sent in a decade ago to address the increasing militant activity. These forces have left since the junta took over, and the military government has employed Russian mercenaries to tackle the instability. Nevertheless, the Islamist rebellion has persisted and significant areas of the northern and eastern territories of the country remain not under administrative command.