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Mali has closed schools and universities across the nation due to a critical fuel scarcity triggered by a restriction on petroleum supplies imposed by jihadist fighters.

The Education Minister stated on state television that all academic facilities would be inactive until 9 November, clarifying that the travel of employees and learners had been impacted by the blockade.

He emphasized that the authorities were “making every effort” to resolve the situation so that educational activities could resume on 10 November.

For weeks, Mali has been grappling with a petrol crisis, notably in the capital Bamako, after armed groups from an al-Qaeda-linked organization initiated a blockade by targeting fuel trucks on primary roads.

The country is landlocked, so all fuel supplies are transported by truck from neighboring states such as Senegal and Côte d'Ivoire.

Long queues have been snaking around fuel outlets in Bamako in recent weeks, and the city's normally bustling streets have now reportedly become deserted.

The ruling military council had previously assured residents that it was only a short-term problem, but the emergency has persisted.

Last week, the American diplomatic mission in Bamako declared that secondary diplomatic employees and their relatives would evacuate the country amid the deteriorating energy crisis and growing safety issues.

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

Mali is currently ruled by a army council under the leadership of the military leader, who took control in a takeover in recently.

The junta had public backing when it took power, committing to address the ongoing instability caused by a separatist rebellion in the northern region by Tuareg communities, which was then co-opted by extremist groups.

The UN peacekeeping mission and French forces had been sent in previously to combat the escalating insurgency.

These forces have withdrawn since the junta took over, and the military government has hired private military contractors to combat the insecurity.

However, the militant uprising has persisted and large parts of the north and east of the state remain outside government control.