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The landlocked West African country has temporarily halted schools and higher learning institutions across the nation due to a severe energy crisis resulting from a embargo on petroleum supplies implemented by militant groups.

Top education official declared on state television that all academic facilities would be inactive until November 9th, noting that the movement of personnel and learners had been impacted by the imposed limitations.

He asserted that the authorities were “making every effort” to resolve the situation so that classes could continue on November 10th.

For a number of weeks, the nation has been experiencing a petrol crisis, particularly in the capital Bamako, after insurgents from an jihadist network initiated a embargo by attacking tankers on key routes.

Mali is surrounded by land, so all energy resources are brought in by land routes from adjacent nations such as Senegal and Côte d'Ivoire.

Long queues have been snaking around fuel outlets in the capital in recent weeks, and the city's normally bustling streets have now reportedly fallen quiet.

The military government had earlier this month reassured the public that it was only a temporary issue, but the emergency has endured.

Last week, the American diplomatic mission in the capital declared that non-essential diplomatic staff and their families would leave the country amid the deteriorating energy crisis and escalating safety issues.

It noted that the petroleum supply issues had disrupted the power distribution and had the “ability to disturb” the general safety conditions in unforeseen manners.

Mali is presently governed by a military junta led by General Goïta, who took control in a coup in 2021.

The ruling council had popular support when it assumed control, committing to deal with the protracted safety emergency triggered by a autonomy movement in the north by ethnic Tuaregs, which was then co-opted by Islamist militants.

The United Nations stabilization force and European soldiers had been sent in 2013 to deal with the growing rebellion.

These forces have withdrawn since the new administration came in, and the ruling council has contracted Russian mercenaries to address the violence.

Nonetheless, the Islamist rebellion has persisted and extensive regions of the northern and eastern territories of the nation remain not under administrative command.