Bamako: Life in Mali has ground to a near halt as a fuel blockade enforced by militants has left the nation struggling with widespread shortages, forcing schools and universities to shut down and sending shockwaves through the economy.

The government has announced a two-week closure of all educational institutions, citing an inability to keep them functioning amid the severe fuel crisis. Public transport has become unreliable, food prices have surged, and long queues now stretch for blocks outside the few petrol stations still operating in Bamako.

The crisis began when Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), an al-Qaida-linked group, imposed a blockade on fuel imports into the country. Hundreds of trucks carrying fuel and other essential goods have been stranded for weeks at Mali’s borders with Senegal and Côte d’Ivoire. In some areas, militants have reportedly attacked and burned convoys in a deliberate attempt to cripple the nation’s economy.

Authorities say they are working to escort convoys safely into the capital, but these efforts have met with limited success. Many drivers fear venturing onto the highways, where militant ambushes remain a constant threat. The shortage has worsened electricity outages and disrupted industries that rely on fuel-powered generators.

Residents describe the situation as desperate. “We spend hours waiting in line for a few liters of petrol, and even then, it’s never enough,” said Moussa Diallo, a taxi driver in Bamako. “People are frustrated, and everything costs more now.”

Analysts warn that the blockade has exposed the weakening grip of Mali’s military-led government, which came to power promising stability but now finds itself unable to guarantee basic supplies or security. Observers see the blockade as part of JNIM’s broader strategy to undermine state control and extend its influence over key trade routes.

The government has set November 10 as the tentative date for schools to reopen, but many fear the crisis could stretch well beyond that if the blockade is not lifted soon. With the economy faltering and insecurity spreading, Mali faces one of its most severe challenges in recent years — a crisis that threatens not just education and livelihoods but the very stability of the state.