On 2 November two French journalists were abducted in the north eastern town of Kidal. They were killed shortly afterwards.
We advise against all but essential travel to Bamako and against all travel to the rest of Mali.
Although Bamako is generally calm, the situation in Mali is still volatile. Legislative elections are expected in November and December 2013. If you’re in Bamako, you should maintain a high level of vigilance, keep a low profile and stay alert to local political developments. Avoid sensitive areas like military installations. Avoid any large gatherings of people; government Ministries might be the focus for demonstrations. You should maintain several days’ stock of food and water in case disturbances take place. You can monitor daily developments in English through the BBC World Service (88.9 FM in Bamako).
There is a high threat from terrorism including kidnap in Mali. Following the French/African military intervention which began in January, there is a high threat of retaliatory kidnap against Western interests. There is a heightened threat of kidnap in Mali, especially in areas north of Mopti. Further attacks are highly likely in northern Mali.