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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 119774 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: CASC PTER ASEC ML
SUBJECT: TRAVEL WARNING: MALI 
 
STATE 00119774  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
¶1.  The Department of State warns U.S. citizens of the 
risks of travel to Mali and continues to recommend 
against all travel to the north of the country due to 
kidnapping threats against Westerners.  This replaces the 
Travel Warning for Mali dated August 31, 2009, to update 
security and threat information. 
 
¶2.  As noted in the Department of State's Worldwide 
Caution, dated July 29, 2009, the Islamic extremist group 
Al-Qaeda in the Land of the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) has 
been designated as a terrorist organization by both the 
United States and the European Union.  AQIM has declared 
its intention to attack Western targets throughout the 
Sahel (including Mali, Mauritania, and Niger), and has 
claimed responsibility for the kidnapping of two Canadian 
United Nations officials in Niger in December 2008, the 
kidnapping of four European tourists in January 2009 on 
the Mali-Niger border, the murder of a British hostage in 
Mali in June 2009, the murder of a U.S. citizen in 
Mauritania in June 2009, and the suicide-bombing of the 
French Embassy in Mauritania on August 8, 2009.  On 
November 14, 2009, heavily armed individuals attempted to 
kidnap U.S. Embassy employees in Tahoua, Niger. 
 
¶3.  In addition to threats posed by AQIM and potential 
hostage takers, confrontations between the Malian 
military and Tuareg rebel groups occurred in Nampala 
(along Mali's border with Mauritania) in December 2008 
and in the region of Kidal in January 2009.  The threat 
posed by AQIM, continued Tuareg unrest, sporadic 
banditry, and the porous nature of Mali's northern 
borders with Algeria, Niger, and Mauritania all reinforce 
longstanding security concerns affecting travel to 
northern Mali. 
 
¶4.  The Department of State notes that the U.S. Embassy 
in Bamako has designated the 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.  This designation is based on the presence of AQIM, 
as well as Tuareg rebel activity and banditry.  Though 
this restriction does not apply to private U.S. citizens, 
it should be taken into account by all Americans 
contemplating travel to Mali.  The restriction is in 
effect for the following areas: 
 
     -The region of Kidal; 
     -The region of Gao including the road to Ansongo and 
      the border with Niger; 
     -The region of Timbuktu. 
 
¶5.  U.S. citizens are specifically reminded that the 
restricted areas include Essakane, site of the popular 
"Festival au Desert" musical event, as well as many other 
musical and cultural festivals in the regions of Kidal 
and Gao that are traditionally held between December and 
February.  It should be noted that in addition to the 
potential terrorist and criminal threats, these 
celebrations are located in some of the most remote 
destinations on earth and the Embassy would have extreme 
difficulty rendering assistance should an emergency occur 
there. 
 
¶6.  All U.S. citizens residing or traveling in Mali are 
urged to register with the Department of State or the 
U.S. Embassy in Bamako through the State Department's 
travel registration website, 
 
STATE 00119774  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
https://travelregistration.state.gov.  By registering, 
U.S. citizens make it easier for the Embassy to contact 
them in case of emergency.  The U.S. Embassy is located 
at ACI 2000 at Rue 243, Porte 297.  The Embassy's mailing 
address is B.P. 34, Bamako, Mali.  The telephone number 
is (223) 2070-2300.  The consular fax number is (223) 
2070-2340.  The Embassy webpage is 
http://mali.usembassy.gov. 
 
¶7.  Updated information on travel and security in Mali 
may be obtained from the Department of State by calling 
1-888-407-4747 toll-free within the United States and 
Canada or, for callers outside of the United States and 
Canada, on a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444.  For 
further information, please consult the Country Specific 
Information for Mali and the Worldwide Caution, which are 
available on the Bureau of Consular Affairs Internet 
website at http://travel.state.gov. 
 
¶8.  Minimize considered. 
CLINTON