Mali Closes Schools Due to Fuel Scarcity Caused by Jihadi Blockade
Mali has to cancel two weeks of school because rebels are blocking fuel imports, which is making shortages worse and making it hard for people to move around the country.
Mali has shut down all of its schools and universities starting Sunday because of a severe lack of fuel. This is because jihadist militants have blocked fuel imports into the city, Bamako.
On state TV, Amadou Sy Savane, the education minister, said that classes would be canceled for two weeks because “fuel supply problems are making it hard for school staff to move around.”
Militants from the al-Qaida-backed Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin group said in early September that fuel from neighboring countries could not be brought into Mali. This caused the problem. The blockade has put a lot of stress on the weak economy of the landlocked country, which has left hundreds of fuel cars stuck at the border.
Along with Burkina Faso and Niger, Mali is still fighting insurgencies that are being led by armed groups with ties to al-Qaida, the Islamic State, and local fighters. After three military coups in three different countries, French troops were sent home and Russian mercenary units were sent in their place. However, analysts say that their presence hasn’t made things better.
In Bamako, there are long lines at gas stations, and the lack of goods and transportation has caused prices to go up. The blockade is a big problem for Mali’s military junta, which took power in 2020 saying it was needed to end years of instability. Mali depends on oil imports.
The Malian military has tried to protect fuel trucks coming from the border areas to the city. Some were able to get there, but others were allegedly attacked by militants.
On Sunday, the education minister said that the government was “doing everything possible” to get fuel levels back to normal before November 10, when school starts again.
