The UK Foreign Office has issued a stark warning against all travel to Mali following a series of coordinated attacks by armed groups across multiple cities. Gunmen opened fire in the capital Bamako and other locations, prompting the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) to advise Britons to leave the country immediately by commercial flights where safe.
Coordinated Attacks Shake Mali
On April 25, 2026, armed terrorist groups targeted barracks and several other sites in Bamako, as well as cities including Kidal, Gao, Kati, and Sevare. The attacks temporarily closed Bamako International Airport. Mali's army confirmed that soldiers were engaged in neutralizing the attackers and later stated the situation was under control. However, the FCDO emphasized that security conditions remain unpredictable, with a high risk of kidnapping and criminal activity across the country.
Britons Urged to Leave
The FCDO statement read: 'A series of coordinated attacks occurred in multiple locations including Kidal, Gao, Kati, Sevare and in the vicinity of Bamako International Airport on 25th April, which has temporarily closed. If you are in Mali, you should stay indoors where possible, avoid crowded places and areas of military or police activity, and follow guidance issued by local authorities.' Britons are advised to leave by commercial flights where it is safe to do so and not by land.
Background of Instability
Mali has experienced decades of political upheaval, including successive coups by groups affiliated with al-Qaeda and Islamic State, as well as a separatist rebellion in the north. Since 2025, the nation has been governed by a military junta led by General Assimi Goïta, who staged coups overthrowing the previous regime. The latest attacks have fueled fears of a coordinated insurgency. Ulf Laessing, head of the Sahel program at the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, described this as the largest insurgency in Mali in recent years.
Regional Impact
Neighbouring countries Burkina Faso and Niger have also turned to Russia for help in combating Islamic military groups following coups. In Mali, economic disruption has been caused by a blockade of fuel imports to southern cities by al-Qaeda affiliate JNIM since September 2025. A resident of Gao reported: 'The force of the explosions is making the doors and windows of my house shake. I’m scared out of my wits.'
The US embassy in Bamako advised all citizens to shelter in place and avoid travel to these destinations until further information becomes available. The situation remains fluid, with unverified claims from Tuareg-led separatist group Azawad that it had taken control of Kidal.
