đ Share this article Mali Shuts Down Schools and Universities as Islamist Militant Blockade Intensifies Petrol Emergency Prolonged lines have been appearing around gas stations in the last few days The landlocked West African country has temporarily halted educational facilities and universities across the nation due to a acute petrol shortage caused by a embargo on fuel imports implemented by Islamist insurgents. The Education Minister announced on national broadcast that all education institutions would be inactive until 9 November, noting that the travel of employees and learners had been affected by the restrictions. He emphasized that the administration were âmaking every effortâ to resolve the crisis so that classes could continue on November 10th. For several weeks, the nation has been facing a energy deficit, particularly in the main city, after armed groups from an al-Qaeda affiliate enforced a restriction by striking transport vehicles on major highways. Mali is surrounded by land, so all energy resources are brought in by road from adjacent nations such as its western neighbor and CĂŽte d'Ivoire. Extended lines have been snaking around petrol stations in the capital in the last several days, and the city's normally bustling streets have now allegedly become deserted. The junta-led administration had in recent days assured citizens that it was only a passing concern, but the emergency has endured. Last week, the US Embassy in the capital declared that non-essential diplomatic staff and their dependents would evacuate the country amid the worsening petrol scarcity and increasing protection worries. It said that the petroleum supply issues had impacted the power distribution and had the âability to disturbâ the broader protection environment in unforeseen manners. The West African nation is now led by a military junta led by Gen Assimi GoĂŻta, who took control in a takeover in two years ago. The junta had widespread approval when it took power, vowing to address the long-running security crisis triggered by a autonomy movement in the north by the Tuareg population, which was then taken over by jihadist fighters. The international UN troops and France's military had been deployed in previously to combat the increasing militant activity. These forces have left since the new administration came in, and the military government has employed foreign fighters to combat the insecurity. Nevertheless, the militant uprising has continued and large parts of the northern and eastern territories of the country remain outside government control.