Sub Saharan Africa
Mali
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Still current at: 20 July 2008
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Updated: 16 June 2008
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This advice has been reviewed and reissued with an amendment to the Health section (prevalence of HIV/AIDS in Mali). The overall level of the advice has not changed.
(see travel advice legal disclaimer)
Travel advice for this country
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Travel Summary
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We advise against all travel to the north and west of Timbuktu, the north and east of the Niger River along the line of Timbuktu, Gao, Ansongo and Labbezanga and towards the western border with Mauritania and eastern borders with Niger and Algeria. This is because of the increased risk of banditry and kidnap in these areas.
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The British Ambassador to Mali is resident in Dakar, Senegal. However, there is a British Embassy Liaison Office in Bamako, offering consular advice and assistance. See the General section of this advice for more details.
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There is a general threat from terrorism. Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places frequented by expatriates and foreign and travellers.
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Most visits to Mali are trouble-free. We are not aware of any British nationals who required consular assistance in Mali in 2007.
- We strongly recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. You should also ensure that you seek medical advice prior to travelling and that you have had all necessary vaccinations. You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake. See the General (Insurance) section of the advice and Travel Insurance for more details.
Safety and security
There is a general threat from terrorism. Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers.
For more general information see Terrorism Abroad.
Political Situation
Mali Country Profile.
Throughout 2007, Malian security forces were active against rebel groups operating in North and North East Mali, resulting in several clashes. In August 2007, 15 Malian soldiers were kidnapped as a civilian and military convoy was attacked near the Mali-Niger border. In May 2007, an attack by an armed group on a security post in Tinzawatane (north-east of Kidal) killed ten people.
Crime
There have been incidents of armed banditry, carjacking and kidnap in northern Mali. Extremist Algerian groups in the northern region present potential risks for travellers. On 3 January 2008 4 Italian nationals were robbed at gunpoint in Araouane, 150 miles north of Timbuktu.
For more general information see Victims of Crime Abroad.
Local Travel
We advise against all travel to the north and west of Timbuktu, the north and east of the Niger River along the line of Timbuktu, Gao, Ansongo and Labbezanga and towards the western border with Mauritania and eastern borders with Niger and Algeria. This is because of the increased risk of banditry and kidnap in these areas. There have also been reports of fighting between Touareg rebels and extremist Algerian groups in northern Mali.
If you travel to the north or west of Timbuktu, against our advice, you are strongly advised to fly. If travelling overland in this area, it is essential to plan your journey in advance and inform local authorities (police and/or army) before leaving Bamako. A local driver/guide is also recommended. In all cases, travelling after dark should be avoided.
Road Travel
Road conditions off the main roads are often poor, especially in the rainy season (June-September). Driving standards can be poor. You should take particular care and attention when driving in Bamako.
Between 23 September and 8 October 2006, approximately 50 people died in road accidents on RN7 (Bamako-Segou-Mopti road).
For more general information see Driving Abroad.
Air Travel
The EU has published a list of air carriers that are subject to an operating ban or restrictions within the community. You should check the following link to see whether this will affect your travel: http://europa.eu.int/comm/transport/air/safety/flywell_en.htm
Local laws and customs
For more general information for different types of travellers see Travel Advice Relevant to You.
Entry requirements
British citizens require a visa to enter Mali, obtainable from a Malian Embassy or Consulate. There are Malian Embassies in some neighbouring countries, which issue visas.
You must also have a valid international vaccination card with a valid yellow fever immunisation.
Single parents or other adults travelling alone with children should be aware that some countries require documentary evidence of parental responsibility before allowing lone parents to enter the country or, in some cases, before permitting the children to leave the country.
Health
Medical facilities in Mali are very limited.
Cholera, malaria and other tropical diseases are common to Mali. Outbreaks of meningitis also occur, usually from the end of February to mid-April. Since mid-March 2007, Malian health services have recorded nearly 400 cases of meningitis with 26 deaths, with the majority of cases occurring in the Sikasso, Koutiala and Bamako regions.
You should drink or use only boiled or bottled water and avoid ice in drinks. If you suffer from diarrhoea during a visit to Mali you should seek immediate medical attention.
In the 2006 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic the UNAIDS/WHO Working Group estimated that around 110,000 adults aged 15 or over in Mali were living with HIV; the prevalence rate was estimated at around 1.7% of the adult population. This compares to the prevalence rate in adults in the UK of around 0.2%. You should exercise normal precautions to avoid exposure to HIV/AIDS. For more general information on how to do this see HIV and AIDS.
You should seek medical advice before travelling to Mali and ensure that all appropriate vaccinations are up-to-date. For further information on vaccination requirements, health outbreaks and general disease protection and prevention you should visit the websites of the National Travel Heath Network and Centre
For more general health information see Travel Health.
General
We strongly recommend that you obtain comprehensive medical and travel insurance before travelling. This should include cover for medical treatment and evacuation, accidents, cancelled flights and stolen cash, credit cards, passport and luggage. You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake. For more general information see Travel Insurance.
If things do go wrong when you are oversees then this is How We Can Help.
Registration
British nationals residing in Mali should register at the BELO, as should anyone intending to travel up-country. Or register with our LOCATE service to tell us when and where you are travelling abroad or where you live abroad so our consular and crisis staff can provide better assistance to you in an emergency. More information about registering with LOCATE can be found here.
The British Embassy Liaison Office (BELO) in Bamako offers consular advice and assistance. For passport services, applications should be made to the British Embassy in Dakar. Forms are available from the BELO, which is located in the Canadian Embassy compound.
Major banks and hotels accept credit cards and travellers cheques.
Travel advice for this country
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contacts
Mali, Bamako, British Embassy Liaison Office
Address:
Bureau De Liaison de l'Ambassade de Grande Bretagne
Enceinte de l'Ambassade du Canada
Route de Koulikoro
Hippodrome
BP 2069
Bamako
MALI
Telephone:
00 223 277 46 37
00 223 674 90 77 / 674 82 08 Mobiles
Fax:
00 223 221 83 77
Email: belo@ikaso.net
Office hours:
