This is an annual report produced
in conjunction with the Regional Security Office at the U.S. Embassy in Bamako,
Mali. OSAC encourages travelers to use this
report to gain baseline knowledge of security conditions in Mali.
For more in-depth information, review OSAC’s country-specific page for
original OSAC reporting, consular messages, and contact information, some of
which may be available only to private-sector representatives with an OSAC
password.
Travel Advisory
The current U.S.
Department of State Travel
Advisory at the date of this report’s
publication assesses Mali at Level 4, indicating travelers should not
travel to Mali due to crime, terrorism, and kidnapping. Review OSAC’s report, Understanding the
Consular Travel Advisory System.
Overall Crime and Safety Situation
Extremists and criminal groups
operating in northern Mali continue to act as spoilers to the peace process and
threaten those seeking to return government authority or deliver humanitarian
services. While terrorist attacks in the north of Mali remain at previous
levels, those in the center increased significantly in 2018 - 2019, especially
in the Mopti and northern Segou regions. A significant driver of insecurity in
the center is the increased inter-ethnic conflict that resulted in what Human
Rights Watch reported were more than 1,000 civilian deaths in the Mopti region
in 2019. The 2017 merger of four terrorist groups to form Jama’a Nusrat
ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin (JNIM, the “Group for the Support of Islam and
Muslims”) and the recent emergence of ISIS-GS (ISIS in the Greater Sahel) were
also underlying factors in the increase in violence. Terrorists in Mali seek to
target foreigners in addition to their continued efforts to undermine the
national reconciliation process. The government of Mali extended the national
State of Emergency through October 31, 2020, giving security forces broader
power to limit protests, detain individuals, and search people and property.
Thousands of military and
civilian personnel working at the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated
Stabilization Mission (MINUSMA), the European Union Training Mission to Mali
(EUTM), The EU Capacity Building Mission in Mali (EUCAP) and the Department of
State’s Antiterrorism Assistance Program (ATA) are making concerted efforts
toward security sector reform with assistance from the international community.
Mali continued to rely heavily on MINUSMA and French forces to help marginally
stabilize and secure the northern and central regions. The French military’s
Operation Barkhane, an integrated counterterrorism mission for the Sahel
region, continued efforts to degrade terrorist elements operating in Mali. MINUSMA
maintained its presence in northern Mali in 2019 while taking on a greater role
in protecting civilians in that region. MINUSMA also continued to work with the
Government of Mali and armed groups signatory to the Algiers Peace Accord to
facilitate redeployment of government administrators and security forces to
northern Mali.
The countries of Mali,
Mauritania, Niger, Chad, and Burkina Faso created the G5 Sahel Joint Force in
2017 to combat terrorism in the Mali/Niger/Burkina Faso tri-border region. The
G5 Sahel Joint Force headquarters relocated to Bamako following the 2018 attack
of its headquarters in Sevare. It has since begun operations to clear out
terrorists in the ungoverned regions in the Sahel, and is conducting operations
in the Mopti region in an attempt to stabilize the center of the country. Much
work remains for the Malian security services to be capable of controlling
extremist and criminal organizations inside the country. Large swaths of
northern Mali remain largely cut off from effective state control, as do
portions of Mopti region. While impossible to prevent active shooter attacks, a
tactic employed in previous attacks, Malian security services need better
training to aid their response to such attacks. Some government and financial
services returned to the northern regions of Timbuktu and Gao; however, school
closures due to threats in the central region remain a persistent problem. Mali’s
long-standing problems of unemployment, food insecurity, and long-term economic
underdevelopment persist. Mali is far from being able to combat the economic drivers
that lead individuals to banditry, still the largest disruptive force against
private organizations operating in the north.
Avoid the northern parts of the
country due to terrorist and criminal activities, the threat of kidnapping, and
ongoing military operations. Northern Mali remains desolate, difficult to
patrol, and continues to provide sanctuary for extremist groups.
Crime Threats
The U.S. Department of State has
assessed Bamako as being a CRITICAL-threat
location for crime directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests.
Although most crimes in Bamako are of a nonviolent and opportunistic nature,
criminals can be violent and are often armed. Most reported incidents targeted
unaccompanied individuals in the early morning or late night hours. Home
invasions, armed robberies, and carjacking are among the most common violent
crimes reported. Bandits routinely set up roadblocks on major routes outside of
Bamako to stop vehicles to steal belongings; a number of motorists have died in
such robberies. There are periodic reports of nighttime robberies of commercial
establishments (e.g. restaurants, convenience stores, small businesses) in
Bamako; these tend to spike before major holidays. Residential break-ins are
less common; however, maintain proper locks and solid doors and consider employing
residential guards 24 hours per day.
Like in many capital cities,
marketplaces and popular public areas in downtown Bamako are gathering places
for criminals and prostitutes. Visitors should be vigilant and exercise caution
in these areas at night.
Review OSAC’s reports, Hotels: The Inns and
Outs and Considerations for
Hotel Security.
Crime continues to increase
outside of Bamako, affecting a large number of Non-Governmental Organizations
(NGOs). In late 2019, many NGOs had to suspend operations in parts of central
Mali because of increased crime. Thieves and carjackers routinely target NGOs in
the center and the north. Terrorist actors used a stolen NGO vehicle as a vehicle
borne improvised explosive device (VBIED) in the attack on the UN camp in
Timbuktu in 2018. Criminals have beaten and tied up NGO workers during vehicle
thefts, as well as kidnapping them for ransom. Terrorists and bandits routinely
warn NGOs not to work in certain villages and steal supplies donated to the
local population.
Visitors to Bamako should
practice the same personal security precautions they would in any large city.
Visitors should be vigilant and maintain awareness at all times in crowded
areas such as markets. Be aware of anyone who jostles you, even if it appears
innocent. This is often a ploy used by pickpockets, including children, to
distract you. Do not carry, let alone display, large sums of money. Do not
carry anything in your wallet that you cannot replace easily. Theft of
unattended items is common. Review OSAC’s reports, All That You Should
Leave Behind.
Avoid wandering around in remote
areas of the city alone, particularly at night. Travel in groups and stay in
illuminated areas as much as possible. Avoid travel at night on foot since the
roads are often poorly illuminated, increasing the chance of being struck by a
vehicle or motorbike.
Thefts from hotel rooms may
occur. Visitors should not leave anything of value in their room and ensure their
hotel room doors stay locked while sleeping in the room. Given a history of
terrorist attacks against soft targets like hotels in Mali, consider carrying your
own doorstop to secure your hotel room while sleeping.
Cybersecurity
Issues
Review OSAC’s reports, Cybersecurity Basics,
Best Practices for
Maximizing Security on Public Wi-Fi, Traveling with Mobile
Devices: Trends & Best Practices, and Satellite Phones:
Critical or Contraband?
Transportation-Safety Situation
Road Safety and
Road Conditions
Driving is a major safety
concern. Enforcement of existing traffic laws is practically non-existent. Low-level
police corruption remains endemic; drivers can expect police to request cash
bribes on site. Automobiles share the road with mopeds, motorcycles, bicycles,
donkey carts, and pedestrians, many of whom do not look before they venture
into the street. Many drivers lack rudimentary driving skills, and many
vehicles, including public transportation vans and taxis, lack poor maintenance,
are overloaded, and break down frequently. Drive defensively and expect the
unexpected from drivers. Driving at night in Bamako can be hazardous, as many
vehicles lack headlights and roads are poorly illuminated.
Mali continues to improve paved
roads leading from Bamako to most major cities in the south; however, this has
resulted in many accidents due to speeding. The rainy season (June-September)
can make many of the roads outside the capital impassable. Deep sand and
ditches are common on the major routes. Consider using four-wheel drive
vehicles with spare tires and emergency equipment and/or roadside assistance
kits. Travel overland in convoys and with long-range communications capability.
Cellular phone coverage is limited in many areas; use satellite phones if
practicable. Limit overland travel to daylight hours to avoid the risk of
banditry, typically occurring at night, and of poorly illuminated roadways.
Traffic police are routinely slow
to respond to accidents, and drivers often resolve the accident by mutually
agreeing on a sum of money to cover damages in order to settle the accident
without the assistance of the police. Local motorists expect those involved in
an accident resulting in injury to pay for the immediate medical treatment of
the injured regardless of who was at fault. Crowds commonly gather at the scene
of an accident/altercation. Crowds have become involved in the situation in
support of either party and have the potential to threaten the safety of the
parties. Vigilante street justice is common. Most accidents occur between cars
and motorcycles, often resulting in injury of the motorcyclist. Malian law
dictates that able parties “assist someone in danger” (i.e., the injured
party), regardless of who is at fault for causing the accident, and refusal to
do so is not only contrary to local customs, but also a violation of law. Westerners
are widely perceived as being the “able party” in these circumstances.
Review OSAC’s reports, Road Safety Abroad,
Driving Overseas: Best
Practices, and Evasive Driving
Techniques; and read the State Department’s webpage on driving
and road safety abroad.
Public
Transportation Conditions
The Embassy discourages the use
of local taxis, but taxis are widely available in and around Bamako. Taxis can
be in poor mechanical condition and the skills of the drivers vary. If you must
use a taxis, take extreme care. Negotiate a rate with the driver before getting
into the vehicle. It is common for foreigners to receive a higher price than
local passengers would pay. Embassy personnel may not use communal taxis
(SOTRAMAs), which are frequently targets of robbery and are generally unsafe. Streets
are not widely marked; local residents do not normally use street names or
addresses. Passengers should be prepared to give detailed instructions of where
they want to go if the driver is unfamiliar with the destination. Review OSAC’s
report, Security In Transit:
Airplanes, Public Transport, and Overnights.
Aviation/Airport
Conditions
Because there is no direct
commercial air service to the United States by carriers registered in Mali, the
U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has not assessed Mali’s Civil
Aviation Authority for compliance with International Civil Aviation
Organization safety standards. Several major international carriers (e.g. Air
France, Royal Air Maroc, Kenya Airways, Turkish Airlines, and Ethiopian
Airlines) do fly directly into Bamako on a daily basis. Malian customs and
security forces installed a passenger screening system at the Bamako airport to
enhance air transit security monitoring. Travelers should allow a minimum of
three hours for check-in and screening procedures.
There are no domestic commercial flights,
although charter planes are available. The UN Humanitarian Assistance Services
(UNHAS) offers infrequent air service for humanitarian workers to Mopti, Gao,
Timbuktu, and Kidal regions.
Terrorism Threat
The U.S. Department of State has
assessed Bamako as being a CRITICAL-threat
location for terrorism directed at or affecting official U.S. government
interests. Terrorist activities increased in quantity and deadliness in 2019,
and continued to target civilians, Mali’s Armed Forces (FAMa), international
peacekeepers, and international military forces. Terrorist groups active in
Mali include ISIS in the Greater Sahara (ISIS-GS) and Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam
wal-Muslimin (JNIM) – the umbrella group that formed after the merger of the Sahara
Branch of al-Qa’ida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), al-Murabitoun, Ansar
al-Dine, and the Macina Liberation Front. According to the Armed Conflict
Location & Event Data project (ACLED), there were 356 terrorist attacks in
Mali in 2019, resulting in 922 deaths.
Implementation of the 2015
Algiers Peace Accord between the Government of Mali and two coalitions of armed
groups continued to be limited, largely hindering the return of public services
and security to northern Mali. Terrorist groups increased their attacks,
particularly against the FAMa. Terrorism, insecurity, scarce resources, and a
lack of accountability or effective governance resulted in a significant
increase in intercommunal violence, particularly in central Mali. The conflict
zone has continued to press further south. Efforts to secure the center in 2019
were hampered by the limited availability of trained FAMa members and
increasingly sophisticated and coordinated terrorist attacks against military
installations. Terrorists took advantage of long-standing intercommunal and
ethnic tensions to increase significantly their violence against civilians
2019 Terrorist Incidents: JNIM and ISIS-GS continued to conduct terrorist attacks, primarily
targeting Malian and international military forces. Attacks by terrorist
groups expanded beyond the traditional conflict zone in the north to Mali’s
center and southern regions. In 2019 coordinated attacks against the FAMa grew
deadlier. There were multiple terrorist incidents including the following
significant attacks:
- On January 21, 10 Chadian
Peacekeepers died and 25 others received injuries during an attack by JNIM on a
UN outpost in Aguelhok, in the Kidal region of Mali.
- On February 26, unidentified
assailants killed a man in Diankabou, Mopti region, subsequently booby trapping
his body with explosives. The ensuing explosion killed 17 civilians.
- On May 18, near Tessalit in the
Kidal region, a MINUSMA vehicle hit an IED, resulting in three peacekeepers
injured.
- On September 3, an IED struck a
civilian bus in Mopti, leaving 14 people dead and 24 wounded. JNIM later issued
an apology stating it regretted the deaths of “our brothers and sons,” and that
it had intended the IED for the “French occupier and its acolytes.”
- On September 30, near the Burkina
Faso border, simultaneous attacks on a FAMa post in Mondoro and a joint FAMA-G5
Sahel Joint Force base in Boulkessi by groups presumed to be terrorist elements
left at least 38 FAMa soldiers dead, 17 wounded, and as many as 27 missing,
according to the government’s mid-October reports. JNIM subsequently took
responsibility for the attack, claiming to have killed 85 soldiers.
- On November 1, members of ISIS-GS
attacked a military base at Indelimane, Menaka region (near the border with
Niger) killing at least 54 soldiers. The perpetrators likely used a stolen Red
Cross vehicle to approach the base.
Mali has been cooperative in
working with the United States to prevent acts of terrorism against U.S.
citizens. Malian security forces successfully disrupted several terrorist
plots targeting soft-target venues frequented by Westerners in Bamako, e.g.,
hotels and restaurants; they arrested numerous terrorist suspects and seized
stockpiles of weapons and explosives.
Anti-U.S./Anti-Western
Sentiment
As Mali continues down the path
of national reconciliation with armed groups in the north, public perception of
the neutrality of MINUSMA and/or French forces plays an important role in the
potential for civil unrest against Western interests. Local populations have
demonstrated against MINUSMA and French activities. U.S. citizens should be
sensitive to the negative public sentiments toward these forces.
Political, Economic, Religious, and Ethnic Violence
The U.S. Department of State has
assessed Bamako as being a HIGH-threat
location for political violence directed at or affecting official U.S.
government interests.
Civil Unrest
The government of Mali (GOM) held
successful presidential elections in 2018. Thousands of election observers
dispersed throughout Mali for two rounds of presidential elections. While there
were sporadic incidents of violence and election abnormalities, the situation
largely remained calm. In the lead up to the elections, the GOM initially
denied opposition groups demonstration permits, leading to a violent
demonstration in the center of Bamako in June 2018. Facing international
pressure after the heavy-handed crack down on demonstrators, the GOM
subsequently allowed several peaceful demonstrations and marches prior to the
election.
Poor economic conditions,
widespread corruption, lack of government services, and general security
instability contribute to frequent demonstrations and work stoppages in Bamako.
Public-sector workers routinely go on strike and take to the streets. Demonstrations
occur on a daily to weekly basis, resulting in unexpected traffic disruptions
and possible violence. Review OSAC’s report, Surviving a Protest.
Religious/Ethnic
Violence
Interethnic violence continues to
plague central Mali, particularly in the Mopti region. Several factors ranging
from climate change to reduced political power have contributed to an increase
in violence and violent extremism. Ongoing tensions involving ethnic Fulani and
Dogon groups have led to several village raids and retaliatory raids.
Post-specific Concerns
Personal Identity
Concerns
Domestic violence, including
spousal abuse, is common. Although the law prohibits spousal abuse, it does not
prohibit domestic violence. The minimum age to marry without parental consent
is 16 for females and 18 for males. Girls may marry with parental consent at
age 15 if a civil judge approves. However, child marriage remains a common
practice. Female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) is legal in Mali and widely
practiced. The Government of Mali prohibits FGM/C in government-funded health
care centers. Review the State Department’s webpage on security for female
travelers.
There are no legal restrictions
on same-sex sexual relations or the organization of LGBTI events in Mali.
Societal discrimination, however, is widespread. LGBTI individuals have
experienced physical, psychological, and sexual violence, which society views
as corrective punishment; police frequently refuse to intervene. Most LGBTI
individuals isolate themselves and keep their sexual identity hidden. Review
the State Department’s webpage on security for LGBTI+
travelers.
Review OSAC’s report, Freedom to Practice,
and the State Department’s webpage on security for faith-based
travelers.
There is no law protecting the
rights of persons with physical, sensory, intellectual, or mental disabilities
in employment, education, access to health care, or in the provision of other
state services, nor requiring accommodation and access to public facilities. Footpaths
and pedestrian-friendly road crossings are rare and generally are inaccessible
to persons with disabilities. Review the State Department’s webpage on security
for travelers
with disabilities.
Drug-related Crime
There have been reports of drug
trafficking and prostitution in some restaurants, nightclubs, and hotels in
Bamako.
Kidnapping Threat
Kidnapping poses an ongoing
threat in northern and central Mali. In July 2018, JNIM released a video of six
hostages it was holding in Mali. The video also contained footage of U.S.
missionaries working in Koutiala, reinforcing the belief that missionaries and
people working for faith-based organizations may be targets. In May 2019,
French Special Forces rescued four hostages, including one U.S. citizen, on the
border between Mali and Burkina Faso. Review OSAC’s report, Kidnapping: The Basics.
Other Issues
Although it is not generally
against the law to take photographs, individuals should request permission and
exercise care in advance of taking pictures and video. Photographs and video,
however, do not take of sensitive buildings (those belonging to the police,
military, or embassies, including the U.S. Embassy). For example, MINUSMA
headquarters also prohibits photography; authorities have arrested offenders. Review
OSAC’s report, Picture This: Dos and
Don’ts for Photography.
Read the State Department’s
webpage on customs
and import restrictions for information on what you cannot take into
or out of other countries.
Police Response
Although willing to assist and
provide service, police receive poor training and pay, and lack resources to
combat crime effectively. Police and emergency responders have requested money
in return for providing what U.S nationals view as routine police services.
Legitimate police security checks are frequent, usually composed of two or more
police officers, and located at main intersections or near bridges. Calls to
police stations for urgent assistance have often generated responses that no officers
are available or that there is no gasoline for response vehicles. If the police
do respond, many lack investigative skills to solve the most basic crimes or to
identify and arrest suspects.
The Malian government considers
the reform of Mali’s security sector a key policy priority, and has initiated –
with support from the international community – significant efforts to reform
and rebuild Mali’s security forces. Support from the international community focuses
on improving Police, Gendarme, and National Guard performance, capability, and
institutional capacity. This support ranges from equipment provisions to
national security strategic planning and crisis response development. The EUTM
is heavily involved in the efforts to reform and restructure Mali’s military.
Travelers should carry with them
copies of their passport data and visa pages in the event police detain or stop
them. Do not hand over original documents if possible.
There is no centralized emergency
line in Mali. Download the State Department’s Crime Victims Assistance brochure.
Police/Security
Agencies
The Ministry of Security and
Civil Protection has responsibility for Mali’s security forces: the National
Police, Civil Protection, the National Gendarmerie, and the National Guard. The
Gendarmerie and National Guard are military organizations that operate under
the jurisdiction of the Defense Ministry, but are affiliated with the Security Ministry
to reinforce police operations in major cities, particularly during riots/civil
unrest. Law enforcement is the responsibility of the National Police. National
Police responsibilities concentrate exclusively in urban areas, while the
Gendarmerie is primarily responsible for rural areas.
Contracting local guards is a
popular mechanism for protecting property and services, and many businesses and
expatriates employ full-time guards to protect residences and office
facilities.
Medical Emergencies
Medical care generally does not
meet U.S. standards. For those traveling outside of Bamako, medical facilities
are scarce and may be austere. All travelers should prepare a medical emergency
kit including first aid supplies and malaria prophylactic/treatment
medications. Find contact information for available medical services and
available air ambulance services on the U.S.
Embassy website.
The U.S. Department of State
strongly recommends purchasing international health insurance before traveling
internationally. Review the State Departments webpage on insurance
overseas.
The following diseases are
prevalent in Mali: Malaria; Yellow Fever; Rabies; Meningococcal meningitis; and
Diarrheal diseases. The CDC offers additional information on vaccines and
health guidance for Mali.
Review OSAC’s reports, The Healthy Way,
Traveling with
Medication, I’m Drinking What in My
Water?, Shaken: The Don’ts of
Alcohol Abroad, Health 101: How to Prepare for Travel, and Fire Safety Abroad.
OSAC Country Council Information
An OSAC Country Council is active
in Mali. The Regional Security Officer is available to meet with American
private-sector representatives and provide information on the current security
situation in country. To reach the Mali Country Council, email OSACBamako@gmail.com. To reach OSAC’s Africa
team, email OSACAF@state.gov.
U.S. Embassy Contact Information
ACI 2000, Rue 243, Porte 297, Bamako
Monday-Thursday, 0730AM-1700; Fridays, 0730-1130
Embassy Switchboard: +223-2070-2300
Regional Security Office: +223-2070-2552
Consular Section: +223-2070-2505
https://ml.usembassy.gov/
Helpful Information
Before you travel, consider the
following resources:
