"Mali's military government has announced schools and universities nationwide will be closed for two weeks, as the landlocked country continues to suffer from the effects of a crippling blockade on fuel imports imposed by an armed group in September. Education Minister Amadou Sy Savane said on Sunday the suspension until November 9 was due to disruptions in fuel supplies that are affecting the movement of school staff."
"In a separate statement, the Interministerial Committee for Crisis and Disaster Management said restrictions will be placed on fuel supplies until further notice, with priority given at dedicated stations to emergency, assistance, and public transport vehicles. It comes nearly two months after the Jama'at Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin (JNIM) armed group, one of the several operating in the Sahel, declared a blockade on fuel imported from neighbouring countries."
"Since then, the al-Qaeda affiliate has been targeting fuel tankers coming mainly from Senegal and the Ivory Coast, through which most imported goods transit. JNIM initially said the blockade was a retaliatory measure against the Malian authorities' ban on selling fuel outside stations in rural areas, where fuel is transported in jerry cans to be sold later. Malian authorities said the measure was intended to cut off JNIM's supply lines."
Mali's military government ordered a nationwide two-week closure of schools and universities through November 9 because disruptions in fuel supplies are impeding movement of school staff. Authorities said they are working to restore normal fuel deliveries before classes resume on November 10. The Interministerial Committee for Crisis and Disaster Management announced fuel supply restrictions until further notice, prioritizing emergency, assistance, and public transport vehicles at dedicated stations. The Jama'at Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin (JNIM) declared a blockade on imported fuel in September and has been targeting tankers from Senegal and the Ivory Coast. The blockade has driven up commodity and transport costs and caused long queues at fuel stations in Bamako.
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