French authorities have advised their citizens in Mali to leave the country without delay following a series of coordinated attacks, including incidents reported in the capital, Bamako.
In an updated travel advisory, the French foreign ministry described the security situation as highly unstable and urged nationals still in the country to remain indoors, restrict movement, and stay in close contact with relatives while awaiting departure.
The advisory also strongly discouraged any travel to Mali under the current conditions.
The warning comes after armed groups, including an al-Qaeda-linked faction in West Africa and a Tuareg-led separatist movement, launched attacks targeting a major military base and areas close to Bamako’s airport over the weekend.
Reports also indicate that the violence forced Russian forces supporting Malian government troops to withdraw from the northern town of Kidal, a key strategic location.
In response, the head of Mali’s military-led government has pledged to track down and eliminate those behind the attacks, signaling a likely escalation in security operations.