Mali has suspended all school and university classes nationwide for two weeks starting Monday, October 27, due to a severe fuel shortage caused by a blockade imposed by al Qaeda-linked jihadi militants. The blockade has cut off fuel imports to the landlocked country’s capital, Bamako, disrupting transportation for teachers and students.
Education Minister Amadou Sy Savane announced on state TV that schools will remain closed until November 9, with plans to resume on November 10, as authorities work to restore fuel supply. The blockade has left fuel trucks stranded at borders and led to closures of fuel stations in the capital, forcing residents to walk or stay home.
The militants from Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin began the ban in early September and have attacked fuel convoys attempting to enter Mali. The military junta governing Mali has struggled to maintain security and fuel supplies despite help from Russian mercenaries and others.
The fuel crisis has led to higher transportation and goods prices, further straining Mali’s fragile economy. The U.S. Embassy recently began evacuating non-essential personnel citing worsening shortages and growing security concerns.
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