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The United States Embassy in Bamako, Mali, has issued an urgent security alert, urging all American citizens to leave Mali immediately, as the country faces a deepening crisis marked by fuel shortages, infrastructure collapse, and growing militant threats. In a statement on October 28, the Embassy cited “persistent infrastructure challenges,” including a nationwide fuel scarcity that has disrupted transport, electricity, and essential services. Schools and universities have been shut down across the country as the government struggles to respond to the worsening situation. The alert warned that the security environment around Bamako has become “unpredictable and dangerous” due to ongoing clashes involving Al-Qaeda-linked militants. The group Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JMIN) is believed to have imposed a fuel blockade, attacking convoys and worsening the humanitarian crisis. The Embassy strongly advised US citizens to avoid overland travel to neighbouring countries, citing a high risk of terrorist attacks and kidnappings along major highways, and called for immediate departure via commercial flights. At the same time, they remain available, noting that the Embassy’s ability to assist citizens outside the capital is “extremely limited”. This latest warning follows a series of U.S. advisories throughout 2025, including the authorised departure of non-essential personnel earlier this month. Other Western governments have also issued similar “do not travel” advisories for Mali, warning of terrorism, violent crime, and civil unrest. The Sahel nation has been under military rule since 2021 and continues to battle Islamist insurgencies that have displaced thousands. With the fuel blockade crippling daily life and raising fears of wider instability, the Embassy’s message underscores the urgent danger facing foreigners and locals alike.
