France Urges Citizens to Leave Mali After Rebel Attacks
France has urged its citizens to leave Mali "as soon as possible" following a weekend marked by coordinated attacks carried out by separatist fighters and Islamist militants.
In an update issued on Wednesday, the French government also advised its nationals against traveling to the West African country, describing the security situation as "extremely volatile".
On Saturday, explosions and sustained gunfire were reported across Mali, including in the capital city, Bamako. In Kati, the defence leader Sadio Camara was killed in what appeared to be a suicide bombing carried out by militants. Meanwhile, separatist forces seized control of the northern city of Kidal.
Malian Military Response
Mali's military leader, General Assimi Goïta, stated that the security situation in the country was under control.
Speaking publicly for the first time on Tuesday evening, he declared that the army had dealt a "violent blow" to the attackers.
French Government Advisory
The French foreign ministry, representing Mali's former colonial power, issued a statement advising:
"French nationals are advised to make arrangements to leave Mali temporarily as soon as possible on the commercial flights that are still available."
It further instructed those remaining in Mali to stay at home, limit their movements, and comply with instructions from local authorities. Additionally, French citizens were urged to keep their relatives informed of their situation.
"Travel to Mali is still strongly discouraged, regardless of the reason."
UK Travel Advisory
The United Kingdom has also advised against travel to Mali and has requested its citizens to leave the country.
The UK Foreign Office stated:
"We advise against all travel to Mali due to the unpredictable security conditions."
The travel guidelines, which have been in place since the weekend, instructed British citizens in Mali to "leave immediately by commercial flight if you judge it safe to do so."
It also warned against traveling by land to neighboring countries, citing the risk of "terrorist attacks along national highways" as making such travel "too dangerous."
"If you choose to remain in Mali, you do so at your own risk. You should have a personal emergency plan that does not rely on the UK government," the Foreign Office added.
Details of the Attacks
On Saturday, fighting was reported in multiple locations including Bamako, Kati (home to a major military base outside the capital), as well as Gao and Kidal in the north, and the central cities of Sevare and Mopti. Clashes reportedly continued into Sunday in Kidal and Kati.
Reports indicate that the assault by the separatist Azawad Liberation Front (FLA), which seeks to establish a breakaway ethnic Tuareg state, was primarily focused on northern cities. Simultaneously, the jihadist group Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) staged attacks on multiple locations across the country.
Background on Mali's Political and Security Situation
Mali is currently governed by a military junta led by General Assimi Goïta, who first seized power in a coup in 2020. The junta promised to restore security and counter armed groups operating in the country.
When the junta took power, it enjoyed popular support, pledging to address the long-standing security crisis triggered by the Tuareg rebellion in the north, which was subsequently exploited by Islamist militants.
Following the takeover, UN peacekeepers and French forces, who had been deployed to address the escalating insurgency, withdrew. The military government then engaged Russian mercenaries to assist in tackling the insecurity.
Despite these efforts, the jihadist insurgency has persisted, and significant portions of northern and eastern Mali remain outside government control.
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