Mali: more than 2,400 schools remain closed for the start of the school year

The 2026-2027 school year in Mali started on October 1st amid ongoing security concerns, with over 2,400 schools closed out of 11,860, affecting hundreds of thousands of children. The closures are especially severe in the north and center, such as Kidal where 84% of schools are shut, and Ménaka where more than half are non-operational. Causes include attacks, looting, displacement, and safety fears among teachers, with the situation worsening since 2020.