Mali travel advice

This advice has been reviewed and reissued with an amendment to the Terrorism section. The overall level of the advice has not changed

Travel Summary

• There is a high threat from terrorism. Terrorists have been involved in kidnaps in the region and we believe that further kidnap attacks are likely. A group of European tourists were kidnapped in the area of the Mali-Niger border near Menaka on 22 January 2009 and a British national who was part of this group was later murdered. Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers.
  
  
• There have been reports of kidnap threats against westerners attending festivals in Mali. You should be aware that the “Festival in the Desert” and “Sahara Nights” festival, which take place in Timbuktu and Essouk (500 kilometres north east of Timbuktu) are in areas of Mali to which we currently advise against all travel.
  
  
• We advise against all travel to the provinces of Mali north of the River Niger from Mopti. This includes the provinces of Kidal, Gao, Koulikoro (north of Mourdiah), Segou (north of Niono), Tombouctou (including the city of Tombouctou (Timbuktu)), areas bordering Mauritania east of Nioro in the Kayes province, and the north of Mopti province (north of the town of Douentza).
  
  
• Travel in Mali can be difficult and conditions are poor for overland travel. You should take all necessary steps to protect your safety, especially outside of main urban areas, and you should have confidence in your individual security arrangements and maintain a high level of vigilance. See the terrorism and Local Travel sections of this advice.
  
  
• The British Ambassador to Mali is resident in Dakar, Senegal. However, there is a British Embassy Liaison Office in Bamako, offering consular advice and assistance. See the General section of this advice.
  
  
• We recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. You should check that your insurance company are aware of all the areas that you are travelling and to confirm that you are adequately covered. You should also ensure that you seek medical advice prior to travelling and that you have had all necessary vaccinations. You should also check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake. See the General (Insurance) section of the advice and our Travel Insurance page.

Safety and security

Terrorism

There is a high threat from terrorism. Terrorists have been involved in kidnaps in the region and we believe that further kidnap attacks are likely. Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQ-M) operates directly or through criminal gangs who carry out kidnappings on their behalf or pass on their kidnap victims for monetary gain. Recent kidnaps in or close to Mali include:

• On 28 December 2009, a group of Saudi nationals were attacked near the village of Djambala in Niger, close to the Mali border. Four died in this attack.
  
• On 18 December 2009 an Italian couple were kidnapped by an armed group in south eastern Mauritania 18 km east of Kobonni on the road to Mali.
• On 29 November 2009 three Spanish nationals were kidnapped whilst travelling on the road from Nouakchott, the capital of Mauritania, to the northern city of Nouadhibou.
• On 25 November 2009 a French national was kidnapped near the city of Gao in Eastern Mali.
• On November 14, 2009, there was an attempted kidnap in Tahoua, Niger, by heavily armed individuals against employees of the American Embassy.
• A group of European tourists were kidnapped in the area of the Mali-Niger border on 22 January 2009. A British national who was part of this group was later executed.
• On 14 December 2008 two Canadian diplomats were kidnapped 25 miles outside of Niamey and held in Mali.
  

There have been reports of kidnap threats against westerners attending festivals in Mali. You should be aware that the "Festival in the Desert" and "Sahara Nights" festival which take place in Timbuktu and Essouk (500 kilometres north east of Timbuktu) are in areas of Mali to which we currently advise against all travel.

If you are travelling to Mali as part of an organised tour you should confirm with the organisers that they are aware of our Travel Advice and that they can confirm in writing that their travel insurance still applies.

Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers.

You should be aware that the long-standing policy of the British Government is not to make substantive concessions to hostage takers. The British Government considers that paying ransoms and releasing prisoners increases the risk of further hostage taking.

For further information see our Terrorism Abroad page.

Political Situation

Mali Country Profile

Malian security forces continue to be active against rebel groups operating in northern and north eastern Mali. Outbreaks of fighting between the army and the rebel groups and attacks by rebel groups usually, though not exclusively, occur in the region of Kidal and have resulted in a number of people being killed or kidnapped.

In January 2009 a group of unidentified men launched grenades at the residences of well-known Touareg leaders in the city of Gao, resulting in at least two deaths with others seriously injured.

In December 2008, a rebel group attacked a military base in Nampala, south-west of Timbuktu towards the border with Mauritania, resulting in the death of more than fifteen people, including civilians. Since then there have been further attacks in the northern part of the Segou region of western Mali, along the Mauritanian border.

Large political rallies and demonstrations are not common in Mali, we recommend that you avoid them.

Crime

There have been incidents of armed banditry, car-jacking, and kidnap in northern Mali.

Bandits and smugglers are particularly active across the Mali-Algeria, Mali-Guinea and Mali-Niger borders and constitute a real risk to travellers, especially after dark. The presence of Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQ-M) in the northern region also presents potential risks for travellers.

Crime rates in the rest of Mali are generally not high but you should take sensible precautions. Do not carry valuables in public.

For more general information see our Victims of Crime Abroad page.

Local Travel

We advise against all travel to the provinces of Mali north of the River Niger from Mopti. This includes the provinces of Kidal, Gao, Koulikoro (north of Mourdiah), Segou (north of Niono), Tombouctou (including the city of Tombouctou (Timbuktu)), areas bordering Mauritania east of Nioro in the Kayes province, and the north of Moptio province (north of the town of Douentza).

Landmines are being used by groups operating in North and North East Mali.

If you plan to travel to any of the areas of Mali where we advise against travel, you are advised to fly. If travelling overland, it is essential to plan your journey in advance and inform local authorities (police and/or army) before leaving Bamako. A reputable local driver/guide is also recommended. In all cases, travelling after dark should be avoided.

Road Travel

Road conditions off the main roads are often poor, especially in the rainy season (June-September). Driving standards can be poor. You should take particular care and attention when driving in Bamako.

In June 2008, 12 people were killed in one week in accidents on the Bamako-Dakar road (via Kayes). Between 23 September and 8 October 2006, approximately 50 people died in road accidents on RN7 (Bamako-Segou-Mopti road).

For more general information see our Driving Abroad page.

Air Travel

The EU has published a list of air carriers that are subject to an operating ban or restrictions within the community. You should check the following link to see whether this will affect your travel - European Commission Transport - Air.

For more general information see Airline Security.

Local laws and customs

Local laws reflect the fact that Mali is a Muslim country. You should respect local traditions, customs, laws and religions at all times and be aware of your actions to ensure that they do not offend other cultures or religious beliefs, especially during the holy month of Ramadan or if you intend to visit religious areas. For more general information see our Travelling During Ramadan page.

Women are expected to dress modestly.

Homosexuality is legal in Mali, but not widely accepted.

For more general information for different types of travellers see our Your trip page.

Entry requirements

Visas

British citizens require a visa to enter Mali, obtainable from a Malian Embassy or Consulate. There are Malian Embassies in some neighbouring countries, which issue visas.

Yellow Fever vaccination certificate

You must also have a valid international vaccination card with a valid yellow fever immunisation.

Travelling with children

Single parents or other adults travelling alone with children should be aware that some countries require documentary evidence of parental responsibility before allowing lone parents to enter the country or, in some cases, before permitting the children to leave the country. For further information on exactly what will be required at immigration please contact the Mali Embassy in Brussels.

Health

Medical facilities in Mali are very limited.

Cholera, malaria and other tropical diseases are common to Mali. Outbreaks of meningitis also occur, usually from the end of February to mid-April. Since mid-March 2007, Malian health services have recorded nearly 400 cases of meningitis with 26 deaths, with the majority of cases occurring in the Sikasso, Koutiala and Bamako regions.

You should drink or use only boiled or bottled water and avoid ice in drinks. If you suffer from diarrhoea during a visit to Mali you should seek immediate medical attention.

In the 2008 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic the UNAIDS/WHO Working Group estimated that around 93,000 adults aged 15 or over in Mali were living with HIV; the prevalence rate was estimated at around 1.5% of the adult population. This compares to the prevalence rate in adults in the UK of around 0.2%. You should exercise normal precautions to avoid exposure to HIV/AIDS. For more general information on how to do this see our HIV and AIDS page.

You should seek medical advice before travelling to Mali and ensure that all appropriate vaccinations are up-to-date. For further information on vaccination requirements, health outbreaks and general disease protection and prevention you should visit the websites of the National Travel Heath Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) and NHS Scotland's Fit For Travel or call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47.

For more general health information see our Travel Health, and Swine Flu pages.

General

Insurance

We recommend that you obtain comprehensive medical and travel insurance before travelling. This should include cover for medical treatment and evacuation, accidents, cancelled flights and stolen cash, credit cards, passport and luggage. You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake. For more general information see our Travel Insurance page.

If things do go wrong when you are oversees then this is our When Things Go Wrong page.

Consular assistance

The British Embassy Liaison Office (BELO) in Bamako offers consular advice and assistance. For passport services, applications should be made to the British Embassy in Dakar. Forms are available from the BELO, which is located in the Canadian Embassy compound.

Registration

British nationals residing in Mali should register at the BELO, as should anyone intending to travel up-country.

Register with our LOCATE service to tell us when and where you are travelling abroad or where you live abroad so our consular and crisis staff can provide better assistance to you in an emergency. More information about registering with LOCATE.

Money

Major banks and hotels accept credit cards and travellers cheques.