More Than 2,400 Schools Fail to Reopen in Mali Amid Insecurity

More than 2,400 schools in Mali were unable to reopen as the 2026-2027 academic year began, leaving children in conflict-affected communities without access to classrooms.

The disruption comes amid worsening insecurity and the growing presence of jihadist groups in parts of the country. School closures have continued to increase in recent years as violence spreads, according to figures from Mali’s Education Ministry.

Conflict continues to disrupt education

The closures are affecting communities already dealing with displacement and other disruption caused by conflict. The available figures do not provide a breakdown of the affected schools by location or cause, nor do they specify how many children are directly affected.

For families and communities facing insecurity, the inability to reopen schools adds to the wider consequences of the conflict. The Education Ministry’s figures indicate that the education disruption has become more extensive over recent years.

Education named a government priority

The government has identified education as a priority. President Assimi Goïta declared the 2026-2027 academic year the “Year of Education and Culture.”

However, the security situation remains a major obstacle to reopening schools in affected areas. No timeline or detailed plan for reopening the closed schools has been provided.

The continuing closures highlight the difficulty of maintaining access to education while insecurity and displacement affect communities across parts of Mali.