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Mali has closed educational facilities and higher learning institutions across the nation due to a severe petrol shortage triggered by a blockade on petroleum supplies enforced by militant groups.

The Education Minister announced on public media that all academic facilities would stay shut until 9 November, clarifying that the travel of employees and pupils had been affected by the restrictions.

He stated that the authorities were “making every effort” to resolve the emergency so that educational activities could continue on the tenth of November.

For weeks, Mali has been facing a fuel shortage, notably in the capital Bamako, after insurgents from an al-Qaeda affiliate initiated a embargo by targeting transport vehicles on major highways.

The country is landlocked, so all petroleum products are delivered by truck from adjacent nations such as its western neighbor and the neighboring nation.

Extended lines have been forming around fuel outlets in the main city in the last several days, and the city's normally bustling streets have now apparently become deserted.

The military government had previously assured the public that it was only a temporary issue, but the situation has continued.

Last week, the US Embassy in Bamako announced that non-critical embassy personnel and their families would depart the country amid the intensifying energy crisis and escalating security concerns.

It explained that the energy interruptions had impacted the supply of electricity and had the “capacity to affect” the overall security situation in unexpected forms.

The West African nation is now led by a army council headed by the military leader, who assumed authority in a coup in 2021.

The military government had popular support when it took power, committing to tackle the long-running security crisis caused by a autonomy movement in the northern region by Tuareg communities, which was then taken over by extremist groups.

The United Nations stabilization force and European soldiers had been sent in a decade ago to deal with the increasing militant activity.

These forces have departed since the junta took over, and the ruling council has hired foreign fighters to address the violence.

Nevertheless, the jihadist insurgency has continued and significant areas of the northern and eastern territories of the state remain beyond state authority.