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The landlocked West African country has suspended schools and higher learning institutions across the nation due to a severe fuel scarcity caused by a embargo on fuel imports imposed by jihadist fighters.

Top education official stated on national broadcast that all learning centers would remain closed until November 9th, noting that the transportation of personnel and learners had been disrupted by the imposed limitations.

He stated that the government officials were “doing everything possible” to alleviate the situation so that classes could continue on November 10th.

For a number of weeks, Mali has been grappling with a energy deficit, notably in the administrative center, after militants from an jihadist network initiated a blockade by attacking tankers on primary roads.

Mali is landlocked, so all petroleum products are delivered by road from neighboring states such as Senegal and Ivory Coast.

Long queues have been forming around fuel outlets in the capital in the last several days, and the city's usually crowded streets have now reportedly become deserted.

The junta-led administration had in recent days reassured residents that it was only a short-term problem, but the emergency has endured.

Last week, the US Embassy in the capital announced that non-critical embassy personnel and their families would depart the country amid the worsening fuel shortage and escalating safety issues.

It explained that the petroleum supply issues had disrupted the energy availability and had the “potential to disrupt” the overall security situation in unexpected forms.

The West African nation is currently ruled by a army council headed by the military leader, who seized power in a takeover in recently.

The military government had popular support when it assumed control, committing to deal with the protracted safety emergency caused by a independence uprising in the northern region by ethnic Tuaregs, which was then co-opted by Islamist militants.

The United Nations stabilization force and European soldiers had been stationed in previously to address the growing rebellion.

The international troops have left since the junta took over, and the ruling council has hired Russian mercenaries to address the violence.

However, the militant uprising has persisted and extensive regions of the north and east of the country remain outside government control.