BAMAKO, Mali (BN24)—Mali has ordered the suspension of all school and university classes for two weeks, starting Monday, as the country grapples with a severe fuel shortage, officials said late Sunday. The disruption follows a blockade imposed by an al-Qaeda-linked insurgent group, which has targeted fuel supplies since September, worsening the economic and social strain on the West African nation.
The government’s Education Minister, Amadou Sy Savane, stated that the closures, effective until November 9, are necessary because the fuel shortage is hindering the ability of school staff and teachers to commute to their workplaces. “Authorities are doing everything possible to restore normal fuel supplies so that schools can reopen on November 10,” Savane said.
The Interministerial Committee for Crisis and Disaster Management announced that fuel rationing will continue until further notice. Officials said supplies at designated fuel stations will be prioritized for emergency services, public transportation, and humanitarian aid vehicles, reflecting the crisis’s broad impact on daily life.
The fuel shortage is the result of a blockade enforced by Jama’at Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin (JNIM), an armed group affiliated with al-Qaeda. The group has targeted fuel tankers arriving primarily from Senegal and the Ivory Coast, through which most of Mali’s imported goods transit. JNIM framed the blockade as a response to government restrictions on selling fuel outside official stations in rural areas, measures intended to disrupt the group’s supply chain.
Since the blockade began, Mali’s fragile economy has been squeezed. Commodity prices have surged, and transportation costs have risen sharply. In the capital, Bamako, long lines of vehicles have formed at gas stations, leaving residents facing hours-long waits for limited fuel supplies.
Mali’s security challenges have been compounded by years of insurgency in the Sahel region. Alongside Burkina Faso and Niger, Mali has battled groups linked to al-Qaeda and ISIS, as well as local rebel factions, for more than a decade. Following military coups in the three countries, the ruling authorities expelled French forces and turned to Russian mercenary units for security assistance, though analysts suggest that this has done little to curb attacks or insurgent activity.
The fuel blockade represents a major setback for Mali’s military government, which justified its 2020 coup as a necessary step to address long-standing security crises. Analysts warn that continued disruptions to fuel supplies could further destabilize the economy and public services, particularly education and transportation, which are heavily reliant on fuel imports.
In a bid to address the crisis, Mali has signed an agreement with Russia to secure petroleum products. Officials have said the deal aims to stabilize fuel supplies nationwide, ensuring that schools, businesses, and essential services can resume normal operations. The government’s move also signals an effort to reduce dependency on neighboring countries for fuel imports, though experts caution that logistical challenges may delay immediate relief.
The fuel shortage underscores the wider challenges facing Mali, including economic fragility, insurgent activity, and strained public services. As the school closures take effect, families and educators face uncertainty, while the government works to balance security measures with basic economic and social needs.
