France Calls on Nationals to Depart Mali Immediately
"Following the attacks … in several locations across the country, including Bamako, the security situation remains extremely volatile," the ministry said in a statement, directing French citizens to secure seats on remaining available commercial flights without delay.
Those unable to depart immediately were instructed to stay indoors, maintain contact with family members, and closely follow directives from local authorities. "If they must travel, they are urged to exercise the utmost caution," the ministry added.
The advisory follows a series of sweeping, coordinated assaults launched Saturday by armed groups across multiple Malian cities, including the capital. The attacks were carried out by the al-Qaeda-affiliated militant organization JNIM and the Azawad Liberation Front, a Tuareg-led rebel alliance, dealing a severe blow to the country's already fragile security landscape.
Among the highest-profile casualties was Mali's Defense Minister Sadio Camara, whose death was confirmed Sunday in an official statement broadcast on national television by Gen. Issa Ousmane Coulibaly on behalf of the country's transitional government.
A suicide bomber detonated a vehicle-borne explosive device outside Camara's residence in Kati — a strategically significant military town located near Bamako. According to the transitional government, Camara fought back against the attackers, neutralizing several assailants before sustaining critical wounds. He was evacuated to hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries.
The attacks mark one of the most severe security crises Mali has faced in recent years, intensifying international concern over the expanding reach of jihadist and rebel networks across the Sahel region.
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