**Mali Closes Schools Nationwide Due to Fuel Shortage Caused by Militant Blockade**
BAMAKO, Mali (AP) — Mali has announced the closure of schools and universities across the country starting Sunday, as a result of a severe fuel shortage. The scarcity is due to a blockade on fuel imports imposed on the capital by jihadi militants.
Education Minister Amadou Sy Savane, speaking on state television, confirmed that classes would be suspended for two weeks “due to disruptions in fuel supplies that are affecting the movement of school staff.” The suspension aims to address the immediate challenges caused by the fuel crisis.
The blockade was initiated in early September by militants from the al-Qaida-backed group Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin. They banned fuel imports from neighboring countries into Mali, putting significant pressure on the landlocked nation’s fragile economy. Hundreds of fuel trucks remain stranded at the borders as a result.
Mali, along with its neighbors Burkina Faso and Niger, has been grappling with an ongoing insurgency involving various armed groups, including those allied with al-Qaida and the Islamic State, as well as local rebels. After a series of military coups in recent years, these countries have expelled French forces and instead turned to Russian mercenaries for security support — a shift that analysts say has yielded limited effectiveness.
In Bamako, the capital, long lines have formed outside gas stations as residents struggle with the fuel shortage. The scarcity has also led to rising prices for commodities and transportation, further straining daily life.
As Mali depends heavily on fuel imports for its domestic needs, the militants’ blockade represents a major setback for the country’s military junta. The junta, which took power in a 2020 coup, defends its takeover as a necessary measure to address decades of security challenges in the region.
In an effort to ease the crisis, Malian military forces have attempted to escort fuel trucks from border areas into Bamako. While some trucks have successfully arrived, others have been attacked by militants en route.
Education Minister Savane emphasized on Sunday that authorities are “doing everything possible” to restore normal fuel supplies ahead of the planned school reopening on November 10.
https://wtop.com/education/2025/10/mali-closes-schools-due-to-fuel-scarcity-as-militants-enforce-blockade/