On Wednesday, the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs called on its citizens not to travel to Mali and asked residents to leave “as soon as possible,” a few days after coordinated attacks launched by jihadist and separatist groups. It stressed to French citizens the need to remain in their homes, limit their movements, and follow the instructions of the local authorities, while keeping their relatives informed of their conditions. In his first appearance since those attacks, the head of the Malian military junta, Assimi Goeta, at the same time acknowledged the “extreme seriousness” of the situation in the country, calling on the population not to be drawn into “division.”

Published on: 04/29/2026 - 10:22 Last updated: 04/29/2026 - 22:43

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The French Foreign Ministry on Wednesday urged its citizens to leave Mali “as soon as possible,” a few days after coordinated attacks launched by jihadist and separatist groups.

The ministry said in its statement, "After the April 25 attacks on several cities in the country, including Bamako, the security situation remains severely unstable." She added that "it is strongly advised not to travel to Mali, whatever the reason," and that French citizens should remain in their homes, limit their movements, and follow the instructions of the local authorities, while keeping their relatives informed of their conditions, until they leave the country.

Read also: Mali: Asimi Goita says that “the situation is under control,” despite his acknowledgment of the seriousness of the situation

The statement added, "We advise French nationals to plan to leave Mali as soon as possible via flights that are still available."

On Tuesday, the head of the Malian military junta, Assimi Goeta, in his first appearance since those attacks, acknowledged the “extreme seriousness” of the situation in the country, calling on the population not to be drawn towards “division,” and vowing to “neutralize” those responsible for this.

An affiliate of Al Qaeda in West Africa and a Tuareg-dominated separatist group attacked Mali's main military base and the area near Bamako airport in the attacks on Saturday, and also expelled Russian forces supporting government forces from the strategic town of Kidal in the north.

France 24/Reuters

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