France joins the U.S. and U.K. in calling on its citizens to leave Mali immediately as jihadist attacks, economic collapse, and insecurity intensify.
France has urged all its citizens in Mali to leave the country “as soon as possible,” citing an alarming deterioration in security and a worsening humanitarian crisis across the West African nation.
In an advisory issued Friday November 7, 2025, the French Foreign Ministry warned against all travel to Mali, echoing similar alerts from the United States and the United Kingdom earlier this week. The ministry described the situation as “extremely volatile,” highlighting the growing threat of violence, power shortages, and widespread disruptions to basic services.
The warning follows a surge in jihadist attacks, including the reported killing of 14 civilians in the northern town of Léré in recent days. Armed groups linked to Al-Qaeda — particularly the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM) — have tightened their grip over several regions, enforcing a blockade that has severely restricted the flow of fuel and essential goods into the country.
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The blockade has crippled transportation, forced schools and universities to close nationwide, and left large parts of Mali without electricity. Aid agencies have warned that the country is edging toward a full-scale humanitarian emergency, with food insecurity and displacement worsening by the day.
France’s announcement underscores a sharp decline in relations between Paris and Bamako since the 2021 military coup that brought Mali’s junta to power. The government later expelled French troops and ended a decade-long counterterrorism partnership, turning instead to Russian military contractors for security assistance.
While the Malian authorities insist they are maintaining control, international observers say jihadist groups continue to expand their influence, particularly in the central and northern regions. The United Nations recently closed its peacekeeping mission, MINUSMA, at the junta’s request, further weakening international oversight.
The French Foreign Ministry said its embassy in Bamako remains operational but will operate with reduced staff. “French nationals are strongly advised to leave Mali without delay,” the statement said, urging those who remain to register with the embassy and exercise “utmost caution.”
The call from France adds to growing Western alarm over Mali’s stability as the Sahel region faces a surge in extremist violence and political upheaval.