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Mali closed schools and universities across the country from Sunday due to fuel shortages caused by a blockade on fuel imports imposed on the capital by jihadist militants.
Education Minister Amadou Si Savane announced on state television that classes would be suspended for two weeks “due to the disruption in fuel supplies affecting the movement of school staff”.
Militants from the al-Qaeda-backed Jamaat Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimeen group announced a ban on fuel imports into Mali from neighboring countries in early September, crippling the besieged country’s fragile economy and leaving hundreds of fuel trucks stranded at the border.
gardener with neighbor Burkina Faso And nigerBattling an insurgency by armed groups, including al-Qaeda and some affiliates Islamic State group as well as local rebels. After military coups in all three countries in recent years, they have expelled French forces and turned to Russian mercenary units for security assistance, something analysts say has made little difference.
In the capital of Mali, bamakoEndless queues stretched in front of gas stations and fuel shortages affected the prices of goods and transportation.
For a country that is dependent on fuel imports for domestic needs, the blockade is seen as a significant blow to Mali’s military regime. The junta defended its forceful seizure of power in 2020 as a necessary step to end decades of security crises.
The Malian army attempted to move some fuel trucks from border areas to Bamako. Some trucks arrived but others were attacked by the militants.
The education minister on Sunday said authorities are making “every possible effort” to restore normal fuel supply before schools resume classes on November 10.