France advises citizens to leave Mali

The French government has urged its citizens living in Mali to leave the country following a surge in attacks by the militant group JNIM, which is linked to al-Qaeda. The assaults have disrupted fuel imports, causing widespread power outages and school closures. In a statement, France warned that the security situation in Mali, including the capital Bamako, has deteriorated significantly. French nationals were advised to depart “as soon as possible” using available commercial flights. Since September 2025, JNIM fighters have targeted fuel trucks, particularly those entering Mali from Senega

The French government has urged its citizens living in Mali to leave the country following a surge in attacks by the militant group JNIM, which is linked to al-Qaeda. The assaults have disrupted fuel imports, causing widespread power outages and school closures. In a statement, France warned that the security situation in Mali, including the capital Bamako, has deteriorated significantly. French nationals were advised to depart “as soon as possible” using available commercial flights. Since September 2025, JNIM fighters have targeted fuel trucks, particularly those entering Mali from Senegal and Côte d’Ivoire — the country’s main suppliers of petroleum products. “The French government strongly advises against overland travel, as national highways remain vulnerable to terrorist attacks,” the statement added. This advisory follows recent decisions by several international transport companies to suspend their operations in Mali due to growing insecurity and severe fuel shortages.