On Monday, October 27, 2025, Mali found itself in the grip of a crisis that has rippled through every layer of society: the government closed all schools and universities nationwide, citing a severe fuel scarcity that has left the country’s capital and its regions reeling. The cause, according to both the Associated Press and BBC reporting, is a blockade on fuel imports imposed by militants from the al-Qaida-backed Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin group. Their ban, which began in early September, has squeezed the landlocked nation’s already fragile economy and put everyday life on hold for millions.
Education Minister Amadou Sy Savane addressed the nation on state television Sunday night, declaring, “Classes would be suspended for two weeks due to disruptions in fuel supplies that are affecting the movement of school staff.” He assured Malians that authorities were “doing everything possible” to restore normal fuel supplies before schools are scheduled to resume on November 10.
The blockade has had a domino effect, leaving hundreds of fuel trucks stranded at the border and making it nearly impossible for fuel to reach the capital, Bamako, and other cities. As a result, endless queues have formed outside gas stations, and the scarcity has driven up the price of commodities and transportation. For a country that relies almost entirely on fuel imports to meet its domestic needs, the blockade is not just an inconvenience—it’s a significant setback, especially for the military junta that seized power in 2020.
This latest disruption comes on top of years of turmoil. Mali, along with its neighbors Burkina Faso and Niger, has been fighting a persistent insurgency by armed groups, including some affiliated with al-Qaida and the Islamic State, as well as local rebels. The region’s instability deepened after a series of military coups swept through all three countries in recent years. In the aftermath, French forces—long seen as a bulwark against Islamist militants—were expelled, and the new military rulers turned to Russia’s mercenary units for security assistance. Yet, as analysts have noted, this shift has done little to curb violence or restore order.
The blockade’s impact on daily life in Bamako is impossible to ignore. According to the Associated Press, “endless queues have stretched in front of gas stations and the fuel scarcity has affected the price of commodities and transportation.” Residents have had to adapt quickly. Some have abandoned private vehicles altogether, while others wait hours for public transport that is now both more expensive and less reliable. For teachers and students, the fuel shortage has made simply getting to school a logistical nightmare—hence the nationwide closure.
The Malian military, for its part, has tried to break the blockade by escorting fuel trucks from border areas to Bamako. Some convoys have made it through, but others have been attacked by militants, underlining the risks and the militants’ determination. As BBC reports, “the Malian military has attempted to escort some fuel trucks from border areas to the capital, with mixed results, as some convoys were attacked by militants.” The authorities’ efforts to restore normalcy before November 10 remain an uphill battle.
The education shutdown is just one of many ripple effects from a crisis that has touched nearly every sector. The fuel scarcity has driven up transportation costs, which in turn has led to higher food and commodity prices. For families already struggling with economic hardship, these increases are painful. “The blockade has left hundreds of fuel trucks stranded at the border and worsened the landlocked country’s fragile economy,” BBC noted. In a nation where most goods must be imported, any disruption to fuel supplies quickly becomes a crisis of much larger proportions.
For Mali’s military junta, which took control in 2020 and justified its forceful takeover as a necessary step to end decades of security crises, the blockade is a major test. The government now faces mounting pressure to demonstrate it can manage the country’s security and economic challenges. As the Associated Press observed, “the blockade is seen as a significant setback for Mali’s military junta.” The junta’s legitimacy, already questioned by some Malians and international observers, is now on even shakier ground.
Meanwhile, the broader regional context cannot be ignored. Burkina Faso and Niger, Mali’s neighbors, are facing similar security threats and have also seen military takeovers in recent years. After expelling French forces, all three countries have increasingly relied on Russian mercenaries for security—a shift that, so far, has not delivered the stability many hoped for. Analysts quoted by both AP and BBC have noted that “Russia’s mercenary units were called for security assistance, which analysts say has made little difference.”
In Bamako, the situation at gas stations has become emblematic of the crisis. Long lines form at dawn, with residents hoping to fill up before supplies run out. Some have taken to social media to document the hours-long waits and the frustration that builds as tempers flare. Taxi drivers, who rely on daily fuel to earn a living, are among the hardest hit. “For a country that relies on fuel imports for domestic needs, the blockade is seen as a significant setback,” the Associated Press reported, capturing the mood of a city on edge.
Despite the chaos, the government has promised that the closure of schools and universities will be temporary. Authorities are working around the clock to negotiate safe passage for fuel convoys and to find alternative solutions. Still, many families are bracing for a longer disruption, worried that the blockade—and the violence behind it—may not be resolved so quickly. The hope, for now, is that classes can resume on November 10 as planned, but much depends on whether the government can break the blockade and restore fuel supplies.
As the sun sets over Bamako, the uncertainty lingers. Parents wonder how long their children will be out of school. Teachers, unable to travel, wait for news. The military faces the daunting task of protecting convoys and restoring order, even as militants remain determined to enforce their blockade. For Mali, the next two weeks will be a crucial test—not only of the government’s ability to respond to crisis, but of the resilience of its people in the face of adversity.
In moments like these, Mali’s future hangs in the balance, shaped by forces both internal and external. The outcome of this crisis will undoubtedly reverberate far beyond the classroom, touching every aspect of life in this embattled West African nation.
