đ Share this article Mali Suspends Educational Institutions and Universities as Islamist Militant Blockade Intensifies Fuel Emergency Lengthy lines have been snaking around fuel pumps in the last few days Mali has closed schools and higher learning institutions throughout the country due to a acute fuel scarcity triggered by a blockade on fuel imports implemented by militant groups. Top education official stated on public media that all learning centers would remain closed until November 9th, explaining that the movement of employees and pupils had been affected by the restrictions. He emphasized that the administration were âworking tirelesslyâ to resolve the emergency so that educational activities could restart on 10 November. For weeks, Mali has been experiencing a fuel shortage, especially in the main city, after armed groups from an jihadist network enforced a blockade by striking transport vehicles on primary roads. The country is without coastal access, so all energy resources are brought in by land routes from bordering countries such as its western neighbor and Ivory Coast. Extended lines have been forming around fuel outlets in the capital in recent weeks, and the city's usually crowded streets have now reportedly become deserted. The military government had previously promised residents that it was only a temporary issue, but the emergency has endured. Recently, the US Embassy in Bamako announced that secondary diplomatic employees and their dependents would evacuate the country amid the deteriorating fuel shortage and growing security concerns. It noted that the petroleum supply issues had disrupted the supply of electricity and had the âability to disturbâ the broader protection environment in unpredictable ways. The West African nation is presently governed by a armed forces administration under the leadership of the military leader, who took control in a takeover in two years ago. The military government had public backing when it came to authority, vowing to tackle the protracted safety emergency prompted by a separatist rebellion in the northern region by the Tuareg population, which was then co-opted by Islamist militants. The international UN troops and France's military had been deployed in 2013 to address the increasing militant activity. These forces have withdrawn since the new administration came in, and the ruling council has hired private military contractors to address the instability. However, the Islamist rebellion has continued and significant areas of the north and east of the state remain outside government control.