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UPDATE: Polish Foreign Ministry warns against travel to Mali amid high security risks

04.11.2025 14:50
Spokesperson for Poland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Maciej Wewiór, warned on Tuesday, 4 November, via social media that citizens should avoid all travel to Mali, including the capital, Bamako.
People line up to fill the tanks of their vehicles at a fuel station in Bamako, Mali, on 1 November 2025. Since September, Bamako has faced fuel shortages caused by a blockade on the routes used by fuel tankers in Mali by the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims, an organization affiliated with al-Qaeda.
People line up to fill the tanks of their vehicles at a fuel station in Bamako, Mali, on 1 November 2025. Since September, Bamako has faced fuel shortages caused by a blockade on the routes used by fuel tankers in Mali by the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims, an organization affiliated with al-Qaeda. Photo: HADAMA DIAKITE/PAP/EPA

The ministry highlighted a very high risk of terrorist attacks across Mali, including in city centres, markets, public buildings, religious sites, shopping centres, hotels, and restaurants. Kidnappings for terrorist purposes are also possible. Ongoing military operations in the country further increase the risks.

With no Polish diplomatic presence in Mali, direct consular assistance is extremely limited. Polish citizens in countries without a Polish embassy may seek help from other EU member states’ embassies on the same terms as local nationals.

Wewiór stressed that travellers should prioritise their safety and carefully consider any journey to the region. He previously issued similar warnings regarding travel to Tanzania in East Africa.

In both cases, the ministry recommends that all Polish citizens use the EU’s embassy locator for assistance: https://odyseusz.msz.gov.pl.

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Source: Polish Radio English Section/X/@RzecznikMSZ/@MSZ_RP