🔗 Share this article The West African nation Shuts Down Schools and Universities as Islamist Militant Restrictions Worsens Petrol Shortage Prolonged queues have been snaking around gas stations in recent weeks Mali has temporarily halted educational facilities and colleges across the nation due to a acute petrol shortage caused by a blockade on energy resources implemented by jihadist fighters. The Education Minister announced on national broadcast that all academic facilities would be inactive until November 9th, noting that the travel of employees and learners had been disrupted by the blockade. He emphasized that the administration were “making every effort” to resolve the crisis so that academic sessions could restart on the tenth of November. For weeks, Mali has been grappling with a fuel shortage, especially in the administrative center, after insurgents from an al-Qaeda-linked organization initiated a restriction by striking transport vehicles on primary roads. Mali is without coastal access, so all energy resources are delivered by truck from neighboring states such as Senegal and the neighboring nation. Extended lines have been winding around fuel outlets in Bamako in the last several days, and the city's typically busy streets have now apparently grown silent. The ruling military council had previously reassured the public that it was only a passing concern, but the crisis has endured. Recently, the United States diplomatic office in Bamako announced that secondary diplomatic employees and their dependents would evacuate Mali amid the deteriorating petrol scarcity and escalating security concerns. It noted that the energy interruptions had disrupted the energy availability and had the “potential to disrupt” the overall security situation in unforeseen manners. Mali is presently governed by a armed forces administration headed by the military leader, who seized power in a military overthrow in recently. The junta had popular support when it assumed control, committing to address the ongoing instability triggered by a autonomy movement in the northern region by Tuareg communities, which was then hijacked by jihadist fighters. The international UN troops and France's military had been stationed in 2013 to address the increasing militant activity. These forces have left since the junta took over, and the ruling council has contracted Russian mercenaries to address the violence. However, the jihadist insurgency has continued and large parts of the north and east of the nation remain not under administrative command.