Mali: French soldier killed in fighting against militants in Gossi (Tombouctou region) July 23

Event

On Thursday, July 23, a French soldier was killed in Gossi (Tombouctou region), approximately 150km (93 mi) west of Gao (Gao region), during combat operations against Islamist militants. The action was part of Operation Barkhane, a Sahel-wide counter insurgency operation. Official reports indicate that the soldier was killed after his armoured vehicle struck a vehicle laden with explosives. According to media sources, over 5000 French soldiers have been deployed to the West African Sahel region to fight Islamist militants in the area.

Further security operations and encounters with militants are therefore likely in the near and medium term.

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, and report any suspicious objects or behavior to the authorities.