The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has updated its travel advisory for Mali, announcing a 9pm curfew effective from Friday, May 1. The change was made on Thursday, April 30, just one day before the new restrictions come into force.
Coordinated Attacks Prompt Security Measures
According to an official statement on the FCDO website, a series of coordinated attacks occurred on April 25 in several locations, including Kidal, Gao, Kati, Severe, and near Bamako International Airport. While the airport has reopened, some flights are experiencing delays or cancellations. Travelers are advised to check with their airline for the latest information before departing.
Curfew Details and Restrictions
The FCDO explained that local authorities have imposed a curfew in the Bamako district from 9pm to 6am starting May 1. Movement is restricted during these hours. The department urges UK nationals to adhere to the curfew, limit their movements, and follow local authority guidance.
The advisory strongly recommends: "If you are in Mali, you should leave immediately by commercial flight if you judge it safe to do so." It also advises avoiding crowded places, areas of military or police activity, and any road blockades set up by security forces.
Continued Travel Ban and Regional Tensions
The FCDO continues to advise against all travel to Mali. This follows a similar warning from France, which urged its citizens to leave the West African nation "as soon as possible." A French foreign ministry spokesperson described the situation as "extremely volatile."
In a further development, a spokesperson for the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA), an ethnic Tuareg separatist group, vowed on Wednesday that "the regime will fall, sooner or later."
