- Country Description
- Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)/Embassy Location
- Entry/Exit Requirements for U.S. Citizens
- Threats to Safety and Security
- Crime
- Victims of Crime
- Criminal Penalties
- Special Circumstances
- Medical Facilities and Health Information
- Medical Insurance
- Traffic Safety and Road Conditions
- Aviation Safety Oversight
- Children's Issues
COUNTRY DESCRIPTION: Mali is a developing country in western Africa with a stable and democratic government. The official language is French; however, thirteen local languages are also spoken and have status as national languages, with Bambara serving as lingua franca. The capital of Mali is Bamako (1.8 million, 2009 census estimate). Facilities for tourism are limited, though they are developing. There is a serious threat of terrorist activities in Mali’s three northern regions (Timbuktu, Gao, and Kidal, which make up nearly 60 percent of the country’s area). The terrorist group Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) continues to use northern Mali as an active area of operations as well as a safe haven, notably for detaining hostages. Please refer to the Department of State Background Notes on Mali for additional information.
SMART TRAVELER ENROLLMENT / EMBASSY LOCATION If you are going to live in or travel to Mali, please take the time to tell us about your trip. If you enroll in our Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP), we will be able to keep you up to date with the latest safety and security announcements. U.S. citizens without Internet access may enroll with STEP in person at the U.S. Embassy in Bamako.
U.S. Embassy Bamako
ACI 2000, Rue 243 Porte 297, Bamako, Mali.
Telephone: (223) 20 70 23 00
Consular Section: (223) 20 70 25 05
Emergency after-hours telephone: (223) 20 70 23 01 or 20 70 23 02
Facsimile: (223) 20 70 23 40.
Email address: consularbamako@state.gov
ENTRY / EXIT REQUIREMENTS: If you are not able to show evidence of a current yellow fever immunization, you may be required to be re-immunized on the spot as a condition of entry into the country. The Embassy strongly discourages this option. Travelers should obtain the latest visa information and entry requirements from the Republic of Mali Embassy at 2130 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008, telephone (202) 332-2249. Inquiries can also be made at Malian embassies or consulates worldwide. Visit the Embassy of Mali website for the most current visa information.
Information about dual nationality or the prevention of international child abduction can be found on our web site. For further information about customs regulations, please read our Customs Information page.
The U.S. Department of State is unaware of any HIV/AIDS entry restrictions for visitors to Mali, or those seeking to reside in Mali.
THREATS TO SAFETY AND SECURITY: The U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Embassy in Bamako recommends against U.S. citizens traveling to the northern regions of Mali – Gao, Kidal, and Timbuktu. The terrorist group Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) continues to use northern Mali as a safe haven and platform from which to conduct operations. As noted in the Department of State’s current Travel Warning for Mali and the Worldwide Caution, AQIM has declared its intention to attack Western targets throughout the Sahel (including Mali, Mauritania, and Niger), and has claimed responsibility for the following recent kidnappings/attempted kidnappings and other violent events:
- February 5, 2011 – Italian woman kidnapped in Southern Algeria (Still being held hostage);
- February 2, 2011 – Vehicle-Borne Improvised Explosive Device attack foiled by Mauritanian security forces outside of Nouakchott, Mauritania;
- January 7, 2011 – Two French nationals kidnapped and executed shortly thereafter in Niamey, Niger;
- January 5, 2011 – An individual claiming connections to AQIM attacked the French Embassy in Bamako, Mali with a handgun and improvised explosive device;
- September 16, 2010 – Five French citizens, a Togolese citizen, and a Malagasy citizen were kidnapped in Northern Niger. The Togolese, Malagasy, and one French citizen were released, but four French citizens are still being held by AQIM.
- April 2010 – French NGO worker kidnapped in Niger, executed by captors on July 24, 2010;
- December 18, 2009 – Two Italian citizens kidnapped in southeastern Mauritania on the road to Mali and held in Mali (both were subsequently released);
- November 29, 2009 – Three Spanish citizens kidnapped traveling between the Mauritanian capital of Nouakchott and port of Nouadhibou, and later held in Mali (all three were subsequently released);
- November 25, 2009 – French citizen kidnapped near the city of Menaka (subsequently released);
- November 14, 2009 – An attempted kidnapping of U.S. government employees by heavily armed individuals in Tahoua, Niger;
- August 8, 2009 – Suicide-bombing against French Embassy officials in Mauritania;
- June 23, 2009 – The murder of a U.S. citizen in Mauritania;
- January 22, 2009 – Four European tourists kidnapped on the Mali-Niger border and held in Mali. Three were released, but a British national who was part of this group was later executed;
- December 14, 2008 – Two Canadian citizen United Nations officials kidnapped north of the Nigerien capital of Niamey and held in Mali (both subsequently released).
The threat posed by AQIM, potential Tuareg unrest, sporadic banditry, run-ins with traffickers, and the porous nature of Mali’s northern borders with Algeria, Niger, and Mauritania all reinforce longstanding security concerns affecting travel to northern Mali. In many, if not all, of the above listed kidnapping cases, the individuals were held in northern Mali even though most were not kidnapped there. In addition to threats posed by AQIM and potential hostage takers, there have been confrontations between the Malian military and Tuareg rebel groups in Nampala (along Mali’s frontier with Mauritania) in December 2008, and in the region of Kidal in January 2009. Additionally, the Sahel has been used by traffickers in arms, drugs, and people because of its remoteness and centralized location between Europe and Sub-Saharan Africa for hundreds of years. While these elements usually attempt to avoid contact with outsiders, even an accidental encounter could generate a violent response due to the illicit nature of their activities.
The U.S. Embassy in Bamako has designated the three 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. Though this restriction does not apply to private U.S. citizens, it should be taken into account by all U.S. citizens contemplating travel to Mali. The restriction is in effect for the following regions:
- Kidal;
- Gao, including the road to Ansongo and the border with Niger; and
- Timbuktu (Tombouctou).
Although the we place the highest priority on the safe recovery of kidnapped U.S. citizens, it is U.S. policy not to make concessions to kidnappers. Consequently, our ability to assist kidnap victims is limited.
For the latest security information, U.S. citizens traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Bureau of Consular Affairs website, Travel Warnings and Travel Alerts, as well as the current Worldwide Caution.
Up-to-date information on safety and security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free within the United States and Canada or, for callers from other countries, at 1-202-501-4444 (international rates apply). These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).
We urge you to take responsibility for your own personal security while traveling overseas. For general information about appropriate measures travelers can take to protect themselves in an overseas environment, see the Department of State’s information on A Safe Trip Abroad.
CRIME: Violent crime in Mali is infrequent, but petty crimes, such as pick pocketing and simple theft, are common in urban areas. Passports and wallets should be closely guarded when in crowded outdoor areas and open-air markets. Individuals are advised against traveling on the Bamako-Dakar railroad and should be vigilant for pickpockets, especially at night. Criminals will not hesitate to use violence if they encounter resistance from their victims. There are sporadic reports of nighttime robberies occurring on the roads outside of the capital; tourists should not drive outside of Bamako at night. Travelers should stay alert, remain in groups, and avoid poorly lit areas after dark.
Violent criminal activity does occasionally occur in Bamako. Several violent attacks were reported in January 2010, most occurring south of the Niger River in the neighborhood of Badalabougou. The reported attacks took place at night, and the majority have targeted unaccompanied individuals and ranged from muggings at gun or knife point to physical assaults. Many of the attacks occurred near the residences of the victims, both inside and outside of their vehicles.
Sporadic banditry and random carjacking have historically plagued Mali's vast northern desert region and its borders with Mauritania and Niger. While banditry has not targeted U.S. citizens specifically, such acts of violence cannot be predicted. In July 2008, six people working as USAID contractors were robbed of their vehicle and all belongings, at gunpoint, by bandits between the villages of Temera and Bourem, approximately 120 km (75 miles) northeast of Gao along the Niger River. From May 2008 until July 2008, a series of attacks occured at various Malian government installations. While most of these have been in northeastern Mali, in May 2008, bandits attacked a military outpost in Diabali, 175 km (110 miles) north of Segou. While these actions appear directed exclusively at government security facilities, including military, gendarmerie, and national guard bases, bandits have been known to stop cars at gunpoint while making their escape. U.S. citizens traveling or living in Mali are strongly encouraged to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program to allow e-mail notification and/or text message updates should further attacks occur.
VICTIMS OF CRIME: If you or someone you know becomes the victim of a crime abroad, you should contact the local police and the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate (see the Department of State’s list of embassies and consulates ). If your passport is stolen we can help you replace it. For violent crimes such as assault and rape, we can help you find appropriate medical care, contact family members or friends, and help them send you money if you need it. Although the investigation and prosecution of the crime are solely the responsibility of local authorities, consular officers can help you to understand the local criminal justice process and to find an attorney if you need one.
Due to the vigilantism which often occurs when criminals are apprehended in Mali, it is best to avoid the large crowds that may gather at the scene of a crime, a vehicle accident, or any altercation.
The local equivalent to the “911” emergency line in Mali is 17 or 18.
Please see our information on victims of crime, including possible victim compensation programs in the United States.
CRIMINAL PENALTIES: While in Mali, you are subject to its laws even if you are a U.S. citizen. In some places you may be taken in for questioning if you don’t have your passport with you. In some places driving under the influence could land you immediately in jail. There are also some things that might be legal in the country you visit, but still illegal in the United States, and you can be prosecuted under U.S. law if you buy pirated goods. Engaging in sexual conduct with children or using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country is a crime prosecutable in the United States. If you break local laws in Mali, your U.S. passport won’t help you avoid arrest or prosecution. It’s very important to know what’s legal and what’s not where you are going. Persons violating Mali’s laws, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested or imprisoned. Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking in illegal drugs in Mali are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines.
SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES: Mali is a signatory to the Treaty on Cultural Property, which restricts exportation of Malian archeological objects, in particular those from the Niger River Valley. Visitors seeking to export any such property are required by Malian law to obtain an export authorization from the National Museum in Bamako. It is advisable to contact the Embassy of Mali in Washington or the nearest Malian consulate for specific information regarding customs requirements. U.S. Customs and Border Protection may impose corresponding import restrictions in accordance with the Convention on Cultural Property Implementation Act.
Currency exchange facilities are slow and often use out-of-date exchange rates. The U.S. Embassy is unable to provide exchange facilities for private U.S. citizens. There are several ATMs in Bamako that accept U.S. citizens’ credit/debit cards. Maximum withdrawals are generally limited to $400, and local banks charge up to $20 per transaction for use of their ATMs. There are no ATMs outside of Bamako. Credit cards are accepted only at the largest hotels, a few travel agencies (for an extra fee), and very few select restaurants. Cash advances from credit cards are only available via Western Union in Mali.
The U.S. Embassy does not always receive timely notification by Malian authorities of the arrest of U.S. citizens. You are encouraged to carry a copy of your passport with you at all times, so that proof of identity and citizenship are readily available in the event of questioning by local authorities. If arrested, you should always politely insist that you be allowed to contact the U.S. Embassy (see section on Smart Traveler Program Enrollment/Embassy Location above).
You should exercise caution when taking photographs in Mali. Photographing any official object, entity, or person is restricted. These restrictions include infrastructure, facilities, government buildings, as well as individuals. You should obtain explicit permission from the Malian government before photographing transportation facilities and government buildings. Taking a photograph without permission in any public area or around any of the above listed facilities often provokes a prompt response from security personnel or offends the people being photographed. Taking photos of the U.S. Embassy in Bamako is prohibited.
International telephone calls are expensive, and collect calls cannot be made from outside of Bamako.
Accessibility: While in Mali, individuals with disabilities may find accessibility and accommodation very different from what is available in the United States.
MEDICAL FACILITIES AND HEALTH INFORMATION: Medical facilities in Mali are extremely limited, especially outside of Bamako. Psychiatric care to the same standard as that practiced in the United States does not exist. The U.S. Embassy in Bamako maintains a list of physicians and other healthcare professionals who have indicated willingness to treat U.S. citizen patients. The Embassy is unable to recommend medical professionals or facilities.
Most U.S. medicines are unavailable; European medications are more easily found, and can be obtained at pharmacies throughout Bamako, and are usually less expensive than those in the United States. Travelers should carry with them an adequate supply of needed medication and prescription drugs, along with copies of the prescriptions, including the generic names for the drugs. Be careful to avoid purchasing potentially dangerous counterfeit medications when buying on the local market in Mali.
You can find good information on vaccinations and other health precautions, on the CDC website. For information about outbreaks of infectious diseases abroad, consult the World Health Organization (WHO) website. The WHO website also contains additional health information for travelers, including detailed country-specific health information.
MEDICAL INSURANCE: You can’t assume your insurance will go with you when you travel. It’s very important to find out BEFORE you leave. You need to ask your insurance company two questions:
- Does my policy apply when I’m out of the United States?
- Will it cover emergencies like a trip to a foreign hospital or a medical evacuation to Europe or the United States?
In many places, doctors and hospitals still expect payment in cash at the time of service. Your regular U.S. health insurance may not cover doctors’ and hospital visits in other countries. If your policy doesn’t cover you when you travel, it is critical that you purchase travel insurance with evacuation coverage for your trip, and carry the insurance information with you. For more information, please see our medical insurance overseas page.
TRAFFIC SAFETY AND ROAD CONDITIONS: While in a foreign country, you may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United States. The information below concerning Mali is provided for general reference only, and may not be totally accurate in a particular location or circumstance.
U.S. citizens traveling by road in Mali should exercise extreme caution. Mali has paved roads leading from Bamako to most major cities in the south. During the rainy season from mid-June to mid-September, some unpaved roads may be impassable. On many roads outside of the capital, deep sand and ditches are common. Four-wheel drive vehicles with spare tires and emergency equipment are recommended. Travelers must be prepared to repair their own vehicles should they break down or become stuck. Travelers should also carry plenty of food and water.
We strongly urge all travelers to avoid traveling after dark on roads outside of urban centers. The roads from Gao to Kidal and Menaka, and the roads around Timbuktu, are desert tracks with long isolated stretches. Travel on these roads is strongly discouraged due to the threat of kidnapping and terrorism (see THREATS TO SAFETY AND SECURITY section above).
Drivers travel on the right-hand side of the road in Mali. Speed limits range from 40-60 km per hour (25-40 miles per hour) within towns, to 100 km per hour (60 miles per hour) between cities. Road conditions often require much lower speeds. Due to safety concerns, we recommend against the use of motorbikes, van taxis, and public transportation. Excessive speeds, poorly maintained vehicles, lack of street lighting, and roving livestock pose serious road hazards. Many vehicles are not well-maintained,and headlights are either extremely dim or not used at all, while rear lights or reflectors are often missing or broken. Driving conditions in the capital of Bamako can be particularly dangerous due to limited street lighting, the absence of sidewalks for pedestrians, and the number of motorcycles, mopeds, and bicycles.
Please refer to our Road Safety page for more information.
AVIATION SAFETY OVERSIGHT: Because there is no direct commercial air service to the United States by carriers registered in Mali, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has not assessed the government of Mali’s Civil Aviation Authority for compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) aviation safety standards. Further information may be found on the FAA's website.
CHILDREN’S ISSUES: For information see our Office of Children’s Issues web pages on intercountry adoption and international parental child abduction.
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This replaces the Country Specific Information for Mali dated January 25, 2011, to update all sections.
