Mali: Jihadist fuel blockade forces school closures

On October 26th, Mali’s government announced a two-week school shutdown in reaction to the fuel shortages caused by the jihadist groups’ blockade and attacks on tankers trying to reach the landlocked country, according to Arab News via AP.

Mali’s military junta stated that it will do everything possible to resolve the situation before schools reopen. In early September, the jihadist groups announced the blockade, which has heavily disrupted Mali, which relies on fuel imports from neighbouring countries.

Ever since its takeover of power in 2020, the Malian junta has been fighting the jihadist groups. Despite the military efforts to escort some fuel tankers, multiple were attacked, and this crisis is a severe blow to the junta’s capacity to defend itself.

Arab News via AP, Maghrebi.org