The West African nation Shuts Down Educational Institutions and Universities as Islamist Militant Restrictions Worsens Petrol Emergency
The landlocked West African country has temporarily halted schools and higher learning institutions across the nation due to a acute fuel scarcity triggered by a embargo on petroleum supplies imposed by jihadist fighters.
Top education official stated on state television that all learning centers would be inactive until 9 November, noting that the transportation of staff and pupils had been affected by the blockade.
He asserted that the government officials were “working tirelessly” to alleviate the situation so that classes could continue on November 10th.
For weeks, Mali has been experiencing a petrol crisis, particularly in the capital Bamako, after insurgents from an al-Qaeda affiliate enforced a embargo by targeting tankers on primary roads.
The country is surrounded by land, so all petroleum products are transported by road from adjacent nations such as Senegal and the neighboring nation.
Extended lines have been forming around fuel outlets in the main city in the past few weeks, and the city's usually crowded streets have now reportedly become deserted.
The ruling military council had in recent days reassured citizens that it was only a temporary issue, but the emergency has persisted.
Last week, the American diplomatic mission in Bamako announced that non-critical embassy personnel and their families would depart the country amid the worsening energy crisis and growing security concerns.
It noted that the energy interruptions had affected the supply of electricity and had the “capacity to affect” the general safety conditions in unexpected forms.
The West African nation is now led by a armed forces administration led by the military leader, who seized power in a military overthrow in two years ago.
The military government had widespread approval when it assumed control, promising to address the ongoing instability prompted by a separatist rebellion in the north by ethnic Tuaregs, which was then taken over by extremist groups.
The United Nations stabilization force and French forces had been sent in 2013 to address the escalating insurgency.
Both have left since the new administration came in, and the ruling council has hired foreign fighters to combat the instability.
However, the militant uprising has endured and extensive regions of the north and east of the state remain outside government control.
