A severe fuel crisis, orchestrated by an al-Qaeda-affiliated jihadist blockade on imports, has forced Mali to take the drastic step of closing all schools and universities nationwide. The militants have been attacking fuel tankers on major highways, crippling the landlocked nation’s supply chain from neighboring countries like Senegal and Côte d’Ivoire. This has resulted in paralyzing fuel shortages, with long queues snaking around petrol stations in the capital, Bamako. The situation has become so dire that the US Embassy announced its intention to withdraw non-essential staff, citing concerns over electricity and security. This crisis presents a major challenge for the ruling military junta, which seized power promising to resolve the country’s long-running security crisis.
BBC
