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The landlocked West African country has suspended schools and universities throughout the country due to a critical fuel scarcity resulting from a blockade on petroleum supplies imposed by jihadist fighters.

Minister of Education declared on public media that all learning centers would remain closed until 9 November, noting that the travel of staff and learners had been disrupted by the imposed limitations.

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

For weeks, the nation has been grappling with a energy deficit, especially in the administrative center, after insurgents from an jihadist network imposed a blockade by attacking tankers on major highways.

Mali is without coastal access, so all energy resources are brought in by land routes from bordering countries such as its western neighbor and the neighboring nation.

Extended lines have been winding around fuel outlets in Bamako in the past few weeks, and the city's usually crowded streets have now apparently become deserted.

The military government had earlier this month assured citizens that it was only a temporary issue, but the crisis has continued.

Recently, the United States diplomatic office in the capital announced that secondary diplomatic employees and their families would depart the country amid the intensifying fuel shortage and growing safety issues.

It noted that the petroleum supply issues had impacted the energy availability and had the “capacity to affect” the broader protection environment in unexpected forms.

The West African nation is now led by a army council under the leadership of the military leader, who took control in a coup in recently.

The military government had popular support when it assumed control, promising to address the long-running security crisis triggered by a autonomy movement in the northern region by ethnic Tuaregs, which was then co-opted by extremist groups.

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

The international troops have left since the military assumed power, and the ruling council has contracted private military contractors to tackle the violence.

However, the militant uprising has endured and significant areas of the north and east of the state remain outside government control.