Mali Travel Warning
The U.S. Department of State warns U.S. citizens of the risk of travel to Mali, and continues to recommend against all travel
to the north of the country due to the kidnapping threats against Westerners. This replaces the Travel Warning for Mali dated
July 29, 2010 to provide additional examples of kidnappings carried out by the Islamic extremist group Al-Qaeda in the Lands
of the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) in the region.
As noted in the Department of State's Worldwide Caution dated February 12, 2010, AQIM, which has been designated as a terrorist organization by both the United States and the European
Union, has declared its intention to attack Western targets. As of early July 2010, the Department has been aware of several
separate sources of information suggesting AQIM’s ongoing interest in kidnapping Westerners in the Mali-Niger-Burkina Faso
border area and as far south as Bamako. The U.S. Embassy in Bamako has issued several warden messages regarding these threats, as have the U.S. Embassies in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso and Niamey, Niger.
On July 24, AQIM executed a French hostage in retaliation for the killing of six AQIM members during a Mauritania launched
hostage rescue operation with French assistance in northern Mali. As a result of Western involvement in the raid, it is possible
that AQIM will attempt additional retaliatory attacks against Western targets of opportunity. AQIM has also claimed responsibility
for the kidnapping of two Canadian citizen UN officials in Niger in December 2008, the kidnapping of four European tourists
in January 2009 on the Mali-Niger border, the murder of a British hostage in Mali in June 2009, the murder of a U.S. citizen
in Mauritania in June 2009, the suicide-bombing near the French Embassy in Mauritania on August 8, 2009, the kidnappings of
the three Spanish and one French citizen in November 2009, an Italian man and his wife in December 2009, and another French
national (who was taken hostage in April, and then murdered, as noted above). Two of the Spanish nationals are still being
held hostage.
In addition to threats posed by AQIM and potential hostage takers, confrontations between the Malian military and Tuareg rebel
groups occurred in Nampala along Mali’s border with Mauritania in December 2008 and in the region of Kidal in January 2009.
The threat posed by AQIM, continued Tuareg unrest, sporadic banditry, and the porous nature of Mali’s northern borders with
Algeria, Niger, and Mauritania all reinforce longstanding security concerns affecting travel to northern Mali.
The Department of State notes that the U.S. Embassy in Bamako has designated northern regions of Mali as “restricted without
prior authorization” for purposes of travel by U.S. Government employees, contractors, grantees, and their dependents. Prior
to traveling to these areas, U.S. Government employees in Mali are required to have the written approval of the U.S. Ambassador
to Mali. This designation is based on the presence of AQIM as well as Tuareg rebel and banditry activity. This restriction
does not apply to travelers who are not associated with the U.S. Government, but should be taken into account when planning
travel. The restriction is in effect for the region of Kidal; the region of Gao including the road to Ansongo and the border
with Niger; and the region of Timbuktu.
U.S. citizens are specifically reminded that these areas include Essakane -- the site of the popular Festival au Desert music
festival -- as well as the sites in the regions of Kidal and Gao where many other musical and cultural festivals are traditionally
held between December and February. It should be noted that in addition to the potential terrorist and criminal threats,
these festivals are located in particularly remote locations, and the Embassy would have extreme difficulty rendering assistance
should an emergency occur at one of them.
All U.S. citizens residing or traveling in Mali are urged to register with the Department of State or the U.S. Embassy in
Bamako through the State Department's travel registration website, https://travelregistration.state.gov. By registering, U.S. citizens make it easier for the Embassy to contact them in case of emergency. The U.S. Embassy is
located at ACI 2000 at Rue 243, Porte 297. The Embassy's mailing address is B.P. 34, Bamako, Mali. The telephone number,
including for after-hour emergencies, is (223) 2070-2300. The consular fax number is (223) 2070-2340. The Embassy webpage
is http://mali.usembassy.gov.
