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Mali has temporarily halted schools and colleges across the nation due to a critical fuel scarcity caused by a blockade on petroleum supplies implemented by Islamist insurgents.

The Education Minister stated on state television that all learning centers would remain closed until November 9th, noting that the transportation of personnel and pupils had been affected by the imposed limitations.

He stated that the government officials were “doing everything possible” to alleviate the emergency so that educational activities could continue on November 10th.

For several weeks, the nation has been grappling with a energy deficit, notably in the capital Bamako, after insurgents from an jihadist network enforced a embargo by attacking tankers on primary roads.

The country is surrounded by land, so all petroleum products are transported by truck from neighboring states such as its western neighbor and Côte d'Ivoire.

Extended lines have been forming around fuel outlets in Bamako in recent weeks, and the city's typically busy streets have now apparently grown silent.

The military government had earlier this month reassured the public that it was only a temporary issue, but the situation has endured.

Last week, the United States diplomatic office in Bamako declared that non-critical embassy personnel and their relatives would leave the country amid the worsening energy crisis and increasing protection worries.

It explained that the fuel disruptions had impacted the supply of electricity and had the “capacity to affect” the general safety conditions in unforeseen manners.

The West African nation is currently ruled by a military junta under the leadership of the military leader, who took control in a military overthrow in 2021.

The military government had public backing when it came to authority, vowing to address the ongoing instability triggered by a separatist rebellion in the northern region by the Tuareg population, which was then taken over by Islamist militants.

The United Nations stabilization force and French forces had been stationed in 2013 to deal with the escalating insurgency.

The international troops have withdrawn since the junta took over, and the ruling council has hired private military contractors to combat the violence.

Nevertheless, the militant uprising has endured and large parts of the northern and eastern zones of the nation remain not under administrative command.