Mali: Overnight curfew implemented in Menaka

Event

A dusk-to-dawn curfew was implemented in Menaka on Thursday, November 30, due to the degraded security conditions in the city. The curfew will be in effect from 20:00 to 05:00 (local time) until further notice. Joint patrols - involving Malian soldiers, pro-government militants, and former rebels - will also be deployed to the city.

Context

On November 27, a coalition of international NGOs based in Menaka announced that they were ceasing operations due to rising insecurity and associated risks to their staff. The announcement followed an attack that occurred overnight November 24-25 at the regional office of the International Rescue Committee (IRC) NGO, injuring several staff members.

Due to the presence of various armed groups, Mali's northern and central regions remain unstable despite a French-led intervention launched in 2013 that drove many extremists from their strongholds. France maintains approximately 4000 troops stationed throughout the Sahel. Additionally, MINUSMA is one of the largest UN peacekeeping missions in the world.

Advice

The security environment in Mali remains complex. Professional security advice and support should be sought prior to travel.

Due to the underlying terrorist and kidnapping threats prevalent in the country, all those present in Mali are advised to remain discreet regarding personal details, particularly information concerning nationality, employment, family, etc. Individuals are also advised to avoid public events and places frequented by Westerners, to remain vigilant at all times (especially in local markets, now used by terrorists as recruitment grounds), and to report any suspicious objects or behavior to the authorities.