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Mali has suspended schools and universities across the nation due to a critical petrol shortage triggered by a blockade on fuel imports imposed by militant groups.

The Education Minister declared on state television that all education institutions would stay shut until 9 November, clarifying that the transportation of staff and students had been affected by the imposed limitations.

He stated that the administration were “doing everything possible” to end the situation so that academic sessions could continue on 10 November.

For a number of weeks, the nation has been facing a fuel shortage, notably in the administrative center, after armed groups from an al-Qaeda-linked organization imposed a restriction by attacking transport vehicles on key routes.

The country is landlocked, so all petroleum products are transported by truck from adjacent nations such as its western neighbor and Côte d'Ivoire.

Long queues have been forming around fuel outlets in the capital in the past few weeks, and the city's normally bustling streets have now reportedly become deserted.

The junta-led administration had earlier this month promised residents that it was only a passing concern, but the situation has endured.

Last week, the American diplomatic mission in the capital declared that secondary diplomatic employees and their dependents would depart the country amid the worsening energy crisis and growing safety issues.

It explained that the fuel disruptions had disrupted the supply of electricity and had the “potential to disrupt” the broader protection environment in unpredictable ways.

Mali is presently governed by a armed forces administration led by the military leader, who seized power in a coup in two years ago.

The ruling council had widespread approval when it took power, committing to address the long-running security crisis triggered by a separatist rebellion in the northern region by Tuareg communities, which was then co-opted by jihadist fighters.

The United Nations stabilization force and French forces had been deployed in previously to address the growing rebellion.

The international troops have withdrawn since the junta took over, and the ruling council has employed private military contractors to combat the insecurity.

Nevertheless, the Islamist rebellion has persisted and significant areas of the northern and eastern territories of the country remain beyond state authority.