Travel Warning: Mali

YOU ARE HERE: Home > Reports > Consular Affairs Bulletins > Report Travel Warning: Mali CONSULAR AFFAIRS BULLETINS Sub-Saharan Africa - Mali 31 Aug 2009

The U.S. Department of State warns U.S. citizens of the risk of travel to Mali and that Al-Qaeda in the Land of the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) may use the Islamic month of Ramadan as an opportunity to conduct further attacks against Americans and other foreign nationals. Faith-based organizations, regardless of location, may be particularly targeted. The Department of State also continues to recommend against all travel to the north of the country due to the kidnapping threats against Westerners. This replaces the Travel Warning for Mali dated June 2, 2009, to update security and threat information.

As noted in the Department of State's Worldwide Caution dated July 29, 2009, the Islamic extremist group Al-Qaeda in the Land of the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) has been designated as a terrorist organization by both the United States and the European Union, and has declared its intention to attack Western targets. AQIM has claimed responsibility for the kidnapping of two Canadian diplomats in Niger in December 2008, the kidnapping of four European tourists in January 2009 on the Mali-Niger border, the murder of a British hostage in Mali in June 2009, the murder of an American citizen in Mauritania in June 2009, and, most recently, the suicide-bombing of the French Embassy in Mauritania on August 8, 2009.

In addition to threats posed by AQIM and potential hostage takers, confrontations between the Malian military and Tuareg rebel groups occurred in Nampala along Mali’s frontier with Mauritania in December 2008 and in the region of Kidal in January 2009. The threat posed by AQIM, continued Tuareg unrest, sporadic banditry, and the porous nature of Mali’s northern borders with Algeria, Niger, and Mauritania all reinforce longstanding security concerns affecting travel to northern Mali.

The Department of State notes that the U.S. Embassy in Bamako has designated northern regions of Mali as "restricted without prior authorization” for purposes of travel by U.S. Government employees, contractors, grantees and their dependents. Prior to traveling to these areas U.S. Government employees in Mali are required to have the written approval of the U.S. Ambassador to Mali. This designation is based on the presence of AQIM as well as Tuareg rebel activity. This restriction does not apply to travelers not associated with the U.S. Government, but should be taken into account when planning travel. The restriction is in effect for the following areas:

All U.S. citizens residing or traveling in Mali are urged to register with the Department of State or the U.S. Embassy through the State Department's travel registration website, https://travelregistration.state.gov. By registering, U.S. citizens make it easier for the Embassy to contact them in case of emergency. The U.S. Embassy is located at ACI 2000 at Rue 243, Porte 297. The Embassy's mailing address is B.P. 34, Bamako, Mali. The telephone number is (223) 2070-2300. The consular fax number is (223) 2070-2340. The Embassy webpage is http://mali.usembassy.gov.

Updated information on travel and security in Mali may be obtained from the Department of State by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free within the United States and Canada, or, for callers outside of the United States and Canada, on a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444. For further information, please consult the Worldwide Caution, which are available on the Bureau of Consular Affairs Internet website at http://travel.state.gov.

RELATED REPORTS 24 Aug 2009 AQIM IN WEST AFRICA: FROM SAFE HAVEN TO BATTLEGROUND 21 Aug 2009 WARDEN MESSAGE: POSSIBLE MALI PROTESTS AUGUST 22 21 Aug 2009 WARDEN MESSAGE: MALI, THREAT TO AMERICANS DURING RAMADAN 12 Jun 2009 AQIM DEVELOPMENTS IN WEST AFRICA 5 Jun 2009 WARDEN MESSAGE: MALI HOSTS JUNE 7 SOCCER MATCH; POTENTIAL FOR VIOLENCE

Note: The following text is a quote:

https://www.osac.gov/Reports/report.cfm?contentID=110387

YOU ARE HERE: Home > Reports > Consular Affairs Bulletins > Report
Warden Message: Mali Kidnapping Threat Reminder
CONSULAR AFFAIRS BULLETINS
Sub-Saharan Africa - Mali
17 Nov 2009

U.S Embassy Bamako issued the following Warden Message on November 17, 2009:

The U.S. Embassy in Bamako is issuing this warden message to remind the U.S. citizen community of the continued kidnapping threat in the north of Mali (Timbuktu, Gao, and Kidal regions) and also reminds citizens that the U.S. Department of State has issued a Travel Warning for Mali and continues to recommend against all travel to the north of Mali due to these threats against Westerners from Al-Qaeda in the Land of the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM).

U.S. citizens may call the Office of Overseas Citizens Services in the United States for the latest travel information. The Office of Overseas Citizens Services can be reached from 8:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, Monday through Friday, by calling 1-888-407-4747 from within the U.S. and Canada, or by calling (202) 501-4444 from other countries.

U.S. citizens living or traveling in Mali are encouraged to register with the Embassy through the State Department’s travel registration website, https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/ui/ so that they can obtain updated information on travel and security within Mali. Citizens without Internet access may register directly with the Embassy. By registering, U.S. Citizens make it easier for the Embassy to contact them in case of emergency.

The U.S. Embassy in Bamako is located at ACI 2000, Rue 243 Porte 297. The Consular Section can be contacted at +223 20 70 25 05, or via email at consularbamako@state.gov. Additional local information, as well as recent warden messages, are available on the Embassy’s website at http://mali.usembassy.gov.

RELATED REPORTS
31 Aug 2009
TRAVEL WARNING: MALI
24 Aug 2009
AQIM IN WEST AFRICA: FROM SAFE HAVEN TO BATTLEGROUND
21 Aug 2009
WARDEN MESSAGE: POSSIBLE MALI PROTESTS AUGUST 22
21 Aug 2009
WARDEN MESSAGE: MALI, THREAT TO AMERICANS DURING RAMADAN
12 Jun 2009
AQIM DEVELOPMENTS IN WEST AFRICA

Note: The following text is a quote:

http://www.travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_4566.html

Travel Warning
United States Department of State
Bureau of Consular Affairs
Washington, DC 20520

This information is current as of today, Thu Nov 19 2009 21:33:39 GMT-0800 (PST).

MALI

November 19, 2009

The Department of State warns U.S. citizens of the risks of travel to Mali and continues to recommend against all travel to the north of the country due to kidnapping threats against Westerners. This replaces the Travel Warning for Mali dated August 31, 2009, to update security and threat information.

As noted in the Department of State’s Worldwide Caution, dated July 29, 2009, the Islamic extremist group Al-Qaeda in the Land of the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) has been designated as a terrorist organization by both the United States and the European Union. AQIM has declared its intention to attack Western targets throughout the Sahel (including Mali, Mauritania, and Niger), and has claimed responsibility for the kidnapping of two Canadian United Nations officials in Niger in December 2008, the kidnapping of four European tourists in January 2009 on the Mali-Niger border, the murder of a British hostage in Mali in June 2009, the murder of a U.S. citizen in Mauritania in June 2009, and the suicide-bombing of the French Embassy in Mauritania on August 8, 2009. On November 14, 2009, heavily armed individuals attempted to kidnap U.S. Embassy employees in Tahoua, Niger.

In addition to threats posed by AQIM and potential hostage takers, confrontations between the Malian military and Tuareg rebel groups occurred in Nampala (along Mali’s border with Mauritania) in December 2008 and in the region of Kidal in January 2009. The threat posed by AQIM, continued Tuareg unrest, sporadic banditry, and the porous nature of Mali’s northern borders with Algeria, Niger, and Mauritania all reinforce longstanding security concerns affecting travel to northern Mali.

The Department of State notes that the U.S. Embassy in Bamako has designated the northern regions of Mali as “restricted without prior authorization” for purposes of travel by U.S. government employees, contractors, grantees and their dependents. Prior to traveling to these areas U.S. government employees are required to have the written approval of the U.S. Ambassador to Mali. This designation is based on the presence of AQIM, as well as Tuareg rebel activity and banditry. Though this restriction does not apply to private U.S. citizens, it should be taken into account by all Americans contemplating travel to Mali. The restriction is in effect for the following areas:

-The region of Kidal;
-The region of Gao including the road to Ansongo and the border with Niger;
-The region of Timbuktu.

U.S. citizens are specifically reminded that the restricted areas include Essakane, site of the popular “Festival au Desert” musical event, as well as many other musical and cultural festivals in the regions of Kidal and Gao that are traditionally held between December and February. It should be noted that in addition to the potential terrorist and criminal threats, these celebrations are located in some of the most remote destinations on earth and the Embassy would have extreme difficulty rendering assistance should an emergency occur there.

All U.S. citizens residing or traveling in Mali are urged to register with the Department of State or the U.S. Embassy in Bamako through the State Department’s travel registration website, https://travelregistration.state.gov. By registering, U.S. citizens make it easier for the Embassy to contact them in case of emergency. The U.S. Embassy is located at ACI 2000 at Rue 243, Porte 297. The Embassy’s mailing address is B.P. 34, Bamako, Mali. The telephone number is (223) 2070-2300. The consular fax number is (223) 2070-2340. The Embassy webpage is http://mali.usembassy.gov.

Updated information on travel and security in Mali may be obtained from the Department of State by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free within the United States and Canada or, for callers outside of the United States and Canada, on a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444. For further information, please consult the Country Specific Information for Mali and the Worldwide Caution, which are available on the Bureau of Consular Affairs Internet website at http://travel.state.gov.

Note: The following text is a quote:

https://www.osac.gov/Reports/report.cfm?contentID=110941

YOU ARE HERE: Home > Reports > Consular Affairs Bulletins > Report
Warden Message: Mali Kidnapping Threat to U.S. Citizens in Gao, Kidal, and Timbuktou Regions
CONSULAR AFFAIRS BULLETINS
Sub-Saharan Africa - Mali
2 Dec 2009

RELATED REPORTS
19 Nov 2009
TRAVEL WARNING: MALI
17 Nov 2009
WARDEN MESSAGE: MALI KIDNAPPING THREAT REMINDER
31 Aug 2009
TRAVEL WARNING: MALI
24 Aug 2009
AQIM IN WEST AFRICA: FROM SAFE HAVEN TO BATTLEGROUND
21 Aug 2009
WARDEN MESSAGE: POSSIBLE MALI PROTESTS AUGUST 22

U.S. Embassy Bamako issued the following Warden Message on December 2:

The U.S. Embassy in Bamako is issuing this Warden Message to urge all U.S. citizens in the very strongest terms not to travel to the regions of Gao, Kidal, and Timbuktou and, if already present, to leave these areas immediately.

As discussed in the recent Warden Message, as well as in the U.S. Department of State’s Travel Warning for Mali dated November 19, 2009, the kidnapping threat to U.S. citizens and other Westerners has reached a critical level in these three regions of Mali. The veracity of this threat is demonstrated once again by the November 25/26 kidnapping of a French national in Menaka who was a long-term resident and well-integrated into the local community.

To help U.S. citizens better understand the nature and seriousness of these threats, we once again remind U.S. citizens that the Consular Section is hosting a town hall meeting at 3:00 p.m. Friday, December 4, at the American Club of Bamako. In addition to security issues, Embassy officers will also address 2009-H1N1 influenza and other consular developments.

Registration for the meeting is on a first-come, first-served basis and is limited to adult U.S. citizens. Security personnel will admit only those on the registration list; each person will be required to present a U.S. passport (or other government-issued photo ID) at the security gate. If you wish to attend, please send your name and telephone number to consularbamako@state.gov no later than the close of business Thursday, December 3, 2009.

The State Department’s Office of Overseas Citizens Services publishes the latest travel information on the Consular Affairs website at http://travel.state.gov. That office can be reached from 8:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, Monday through Friday, by calling 1-888-407-4747 from within the United States and Canada, or by calling 1-202-501-4444 from other countries.

U.S. citizens living or traveling in Mali are encouraged to register with the Embassy through the State Department’s travel registration website so they can obtain updated information on travel and security within Mali. Citizens without Internet access may register directly with the Embassy. By registering, U.S. citizens make it easier for the Embassy to contact them in case of emergency. The U.S. Embassy in Bamako is located at ACI 2000, Rue 243 Porte 297. The Consular Section can be contacted at +223 20 70 25 05, or via email. Additional local information, as well as recent warden messages, is available on the Embassy’s website. For after-hours emergencies, please contact the Embassy Duty Officer via the Marine Guard on Post One at (+223) 20 70 23 01 or 20 70 23 02.

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