Faced with a severe fuel shortage, the result of a blockade imposed by jihadist groups, the military junta in power in Mali, led by Assimi Goïta, has announced the suspension of classes in all schools and universities nationwide.

Suspension of Classes and Rearranged School Calendar

The suspension of educational activities takes effect from October 27 to November 9 inclusive, a period of two weeks. This decision, made official by the Ministries of National Education and Higher Education, is motivated by "disruptions in the fuel supply that affect the movements of school staff." The authorities also indicated that school and university calendars will be reorganized.

Priority to the Supply of Essential Services

At the same time, the Interministerial Committee for Crisis and Disaster Management has decreed restrictions on fuel distribution starting October 26, and "until further notice." Priority for fuel supply is being given to "emergency, assistance, and public transport vehicles" at dedicated stations.

Twelve stations are affected in the Bamako district, and the measure will be extended to the regions "if necessary." This priority applies to ambulances, hearses, intercity buses, heavy-duty trucks, and government vehicles involved in crisis management.

Jihadist Blockade and Security Context

The shortage is directly linked to a blockade organized since September by the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM) , affiliated with Al-Qaeda. This group attacks tanker trucks transporting imported fuel, mainly from Senegal and Ivory Coast, seriously disrupting the landlocked Sahelian country.

JNIM presents this blockade as a reprisal for the Malian authorities banning the sale of fuel outside of service stations in rural areas – a ban which, according to Bamako, was aimed at cutting off the jihadists' sources of supply.

In this tense security context, exacerbated by the fuel crisis, several Western countries have reacted. The US State Department authorized the departure of its non-essential personnel and raised Mali to alert level 4, the highest ("do not travel").

The Netherlands also declared the entire Malian territory a red zone, citing a "precarious and unpredictable" situation and warning of the risk of attacks, kidnappings, social unrest, and food shortages. Mali has been in the grip of a major security crisis due to violence by JNIM and the Islamic State in the Sahel since 2012.