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The landlocked West African country has closed educational facilities and higher learning institutions across the nation due to a severe energy crisis caused by a embargo on petroleum supplies implemented by jihadist fighters.

Minister of Education announced on state television that all education institutions would remain closed until November 9th, noting that the movement of personnel and students had been affected by the restrictions.

He emphasized that the government officials were “making every effort” to alleviate the emergency so that classes could resume on November 10th.

For several weeks, Mali has been experiencing a fuel shortage, especially in the main city, after militants from an jihadist network initiated a embargo by striking tankers on primary roads.

The country is surrounded by land, so all energy resources are transported by truck from adjacent nations such as its western neighbor and the neighboring nation.

Extended lines have been winding around fuel outlets in Bamako in the last several days, and the city's normally bustling streets have now reportedly grown silent.

The military government had in recent days assured citizens that it was only a short-term problem, but the crisis has persisted.

Recently, the United States diplomatic office in the capital declared that non-essential diplomatic staff and their relatives would depart Mali amid the worsening energy crisis and increasing protection worries.

It explained that the petroleum supply issues had disrupted the supply of electricity and had the “potential to disrupt” the broader protection environment in unforeseen manners.

The West African nation is currently ruled by a armed forces administration led by General Goïta, who assumed authority in a takeover in two years ago.

The military government had popular support when it took power, vowing to address the ongoing instability triggered by a autonomy movement in the northern region by Tuareg communities, which was then taken over by jihadist fighters.

The UN peacekeeping mission and European soldiers had been stationed in a decade ago to deal with the escalating insurgency.

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

Nevertheless, the jihadist insurgency has persisted and large parts of the north and east of the nation remain not under administrative command.