Mali’s military junta has closed schools and universities across the Sahel country amid a blockade on fuel imports from neighboring states by Islamist militants.
Mali, along with the other junta-ruled Central Sahel countries of Burkina Faso and Niger, has long struggled with an insurgency by several armed groups, some of which are allied with the terror networks al-Qaeda and the so-called “Islamic State” (IS).
What is behind the school closure in Mali?
In an announcement on state television on Sunday, Education Minister Amadou Sy Savan said classes would be suspended for two weeks from Monday “due to disruptions in fuel supplies that are affecting the movement of school staff.”
He said authorities were “doing everything possible” to restore normal fuel supplies before schools and universities reopen on November 10.
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The move comes as militants from the al-Qaida-backed Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin group have maintained a ban on fuel imports to Mali since early September.
The blockade has negatively impacted the country’s already feeble economy, causing the price of commodities and transport to rise.
The capital, Bamako, has seen huge queues form at gas stations.
The junta has announced fuel restrictions “until further notice,” saying it would give priority to emergency vehicles such as ambulances and hearses, and to those used for public transit and goods transport.
Setback for junta
Mali relies on imports of fuel for its domestic needs, meaning that the blockade represents a major challenge for the military junta that took power in 2020 while pledging to stabilize the security situation in the country.
After expelling French forces, the junta turned to Russian mercenary units such as the Wagner Group to help fight the rebels, but analysts say it has made little difference to the poor security situation.
The Malian military has tried to escort some fuel trucks stranded at the border to Bamako, with limited success, as several of the vehicles were attacked by the militants.
Edited by: Kieran Burke
