Published on April 5, 2008

Mali

Armed conflict, kidnappings, armed robberies

Due to recent armed conflict, kidnappings, armed robberies, and the presence of landmines, the Department of State advises U.S. citizens to avoid travel to northern Mali.
Areas of particular concern include the Mali-Niger, and Mali-Algeria borders, the Kidal region, areas north of Timbuktu and the city of Tinzawaten.

Al-Qaeda in the Land of the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) has a presence in northern Mali, and was designated as a terrorist organization by the United States. The presence of AQIM and other armed groups in the north present potential dangers to travelers.

On December 24, 2007, bandits, possibly connected to AQIM, killed four French tourists outside of Aleg, Mauritania. Several days later, four Mauritanian soldiers were killed by suspected terrorists near El Ghallawiya, Mauritania .

On January 3, 2008, four Italians were robbed at gunpoint near Araouane, 150 miles north of Timbuktu by assailants whose affiliation is unknown. This recent activity and the porous nature of Mali’s northern borders reinforce long-standing concern about security for travel in northern Mali.
The Department of State strongly urges citizens to avoid traveling to Northern Mali, including Timbuktu and Essakane.

On August 26-27, 2007, Tuareg dissidents attacked and kidnapped civilian and military convoys near the Mali-Niger border.
On August 30, a truck transporting civilians from Algeria to Tinzawaten hit a landmine, killing at least 14 people.
In September 2007, the Malian military garrison at Tinzawatan clashed with armed rebels. While the government of Mali is working to strengthen security in northern Mali and achieve a peaceful settlement, the area remains unstable.

Many people who reside in or visit northern Mali travel with security escorts.
However, the August 2007 convoy attack on agricultural researchers (escorted by Malian military personnel) illustrated that this does not ensure safety.