Mali Shuts Schools as Fuel Blockade by Militants Deepens Crisis

Bamako (Mali): The Malian government has ordered all schools and universities across the country to close for two weeks due to severe fuel shortages caused by a blockade enforced by militant groups.
Education Minister Amadou Sy Savane announced the decision on state television, saying that classes would remain suspended “due to disruptions in fuel supplies that are affecting the movement of school staff.”
The shortage follows a ban imposed by the al-Qaida-linked Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) group in early September, which prohibited the import of fuel from neighbouring countries into Mali. The restriction has left hundreds of fuel trucks stranded at border points, putting heavy pressure on the country’s fragile economy.
Mali, along with Burkina Faso and Niger, has been struggling for years against insurgent groups, including those allied with al-Qaida and the Islamic State, as well as local rebel factions. After a series of military coups in recent years, the three nations expelled French troops and sought assistance from Russian mercenary units.
In the capital city Bamako, long queues have formed at petrol stations, and the shortage has caused a sharp rise in transport fares and commodity prices. The blockade has become a major setback for the military junta, which took power in 2020, claiming that the coup was necessary to end the country’s persistent security challenges.
Malian troops have tried to escort some fuel trucks from the borders to the capital. While a few convoys managed to reach Bamako, several others were attacked by militants along the route.
Education Minister Savane said the government is taking all possible measures to restore fuel supplies before schools reopen on November 10.