France Calls on Citizens to Exit Mali as Security Conditions Deteriorate

(MENAFN) France’s Foreign Ministry has advised its nationals in Mali to leave the country “as soon as possible,” citing a sharply deteriorating security situation following a wave of violent attacks.

In a statement released on Wednesday, the ministry said that recent assaults in several parts of the country, including the capital Bamako, have left conditions “extremely volatile.” It recommended that French citizens arrange departure through available commercial flights.

Authorities also urged those remaining in Mali to stay indoors, maintain contact with family members, and avoid unnecessary movement. “If they must travel, they are urged to exercise the utmost caution,” the ministry said, adding that citizens should strictly follow guidance from local authorities.

The warning follows coordinated attacks carried out on Saturday by armed groups, including the al-Qaeda-linked JNIM and the Azawad Liberation Front, which targeted multiple cities across the country, including Bamako.

In a statement broadcast on national television Sunday, Mali’s transitional authorities confirmed the death of Defense Minister Sadio Camara in the attacks, which were attributed in part to a suicide bombing involving a vehicle-borne explosive device near his residence in Kati, a military town close to the capital.

Officials said a car packed with explosives was detonated at the minister’s residence, underscoring the scale and coordination of the assault.

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