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Mali has closed schools and colleges throughout the country due to a critical petrol shortage triggered by a embargo on fuel imports imposed by jihadist fighters.

Top education official announced on state television that all academic facilities would remain closed until November 9th, explaining that the transportation of personnel and students had been disrupted by the imposed limitations.

He stated that the government officials were “doing everything possible” to end the emergency so that educational activities could resume on the tenth of November.

For several weeks, Mali has been facing a fuel shortage, notably in the administrative center, after armed groups from an al-Qaeda affiliate enforced a restriction by targeting tankers on major highways.

The country is surrounded by land, so all energy resources are transported by truck from bordering countries such as Senegal and Ivory Coast.

Long queues have been winding around gas pumps in Bamako in the last several days, and the city's normally bustling streets have now apparently become deserted.

The military government had previously reassured citizens that it was only a passing concern, but the emergency has endured.

Recently, the American diplomatic mission in Bamako declared that secondary diplomatic employees and their relatives would depart Mali amid the intensifying energy crisis and escalating security concerns.

It explained that the petroleum supply issues had disrupted the supply of electricity and had the “ability to disturb” the broader protection environment in unexpected forms.

The West African nation is presently governed by a army council headed by Gen Assimi Goïta, who took control in a takeover in 2021.

The ruling council had public backing when it took power, committing to tackle the ongoing instability caused by a independence uprising in the northern territories by Tuareg communities, which was then taken over by extremist groups.

The international UN troops and European soldiers had been deployed in 2013 to combat the increasing militant activity.

These forces have withdrawn since the junta took over, and the current administration has hired Russian mercenaries to tackle the violence.

Nonetheless, the jihadist insurgency has continued and extensive regions of the northern and eastern territories of the state remain not under administrative command.