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Mali has suspended educational facilities and higher learning institutions countrywide due to a critical energy crisis triggered by a restriction on petroleum supplies implemented by Islamist insurgents.

The Education Minister stated on national broadcast that all education institutions would be inactive until November 9th, explaining that the transportation of personnel and learners had been disrupted by the restrictions.

He asserted that the administration were “working tirelessly” to alleviate the emergency so that educational activities could continue on November 10th.

For a number of weeks, Mali has been experiencing a petrol crisis, especially in the administrative center, after insurgents from an jihadist network enforced a blockade by striking fuel trucks on key routes.

Mali is landlocked, so all fuel supplies are brought in by land routes from bordering countries such as its western neighbor and Côte d'Ivoire.

Extended lines have been snaking around fuel outlets in Bamako in recent weeks, and the city's normally bustling streets have now reportedly fallen quiet.

The junta-led administration had in recent days reassured citizens that it was only a passing concern, but the emergency has continued.

Recently, the US Embassy in Bamako stated that non-essential diplomatic staff and their relatives would depart the country amid the worsening energy crisis and increasing protection worries.

It noted that the fuel disruptions had disrupted the energy availability and had the “capacity to affect” the overall security situation in unpredictable ways.

The West African nation is currently ruled by a military junta headed by Gen Assimi Goïta, who seized power in a military overthrow in two years ago.

The ruling council had public backing when it assumed control, committing to address the long-running security crisis prompted by a autonomy movement in the northern territories by Tuareg communities, which was then taken over by Islamist militants.

The international UN troops and European soldiers had been stationed in 2013 to address the growing rebellion.

Both have left since the military assumed power, and the military government has hired foreign fighters to combat the instability.

However, the militant uprising has continued and significant areas of the northern and eastern territories of the country remain not under administrative command.