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The landlocked West African country has suspended educational facilities and universities throughout the country due to a critical petrol shortage caused by a embargo on petroleum supplies imposed by Islamist insurgents.

The Education Minister stated on public media that all education institutions would remain closed until November 9th, explaining that the transportation of personnel and pupils had been disrupted by the imposed limitations.

He asserted that the government officials were “making every effort” to resolve the crisis so that educational activities could resume on November 10th.

For a number of weeks, the nation has been facing a fuel shortage, particularly in the main city, after insurgents from an al-Qaeda affiliate enforced a embargo by striking tankers on primary roads.

Mali is landlocked, so all energy resources are brought in by truck from bordering countries such as Senegal and Côte d'Ivoire.

Extended lines have been snaking around fuel outlets in the main city in recent weeks, and the city's typically busy streets have now reportedly fallen quiet.

The ruling military council had in recent days reassured residents that it was only a short-term problem, but the crisis has endured.

Recently, the United States diplomatic office in the capital declared that secondary diplomatic employees and their families would leave Mali amid the worsening energy crisis and increasing security concerns.

It said that the petroleum supply issues had impacted the energy availability and had the “capacity to affect” the general safety conditions in unexpected forms.

Mali is currently ruled by a army council under the leadership of the military leader, who assumed authority in a coup in recently.

The military government had public backing when it came to authority, committing to tackle the long-running security crisis prompted by a separatist rebellion in the north by Tuareg communities, which was then co-opted by jihadist fighters.

The international UN troops and France's military had been stationed in 2013 to combat the escalating insurgency.

These forces have departed since the military assumed power, and the military government has employed foreign fighters to combat the insecurity.

Nonetheless, the jihadist insurgency has endured and significant areas of the northern and eastern zones of the country remain beyond state authority.