Mali change tracker

1. August 2023Historical

   Shelling of Timbuktu airport begins

   The UK FCDO says terrorist groups have repeatedly shelled Timbuktu airport since August 2023 ³.

2. 7 August 2023Historical

   Air France suspends Bamako flights

   Air France suspended its seven weekly flights to Mali after Niger closed its airspace, as reported by Le360 Afrique with MAP ²².

3. 11 October 2023Historical

   Mali cancels Air France return

   Malian authorities cancelled the authorisation for Air France to resume flights, according to officials cited by Le360 Afrique with MAP ²².

4. 14 January 2024In force

   France: Malian passport required for dual nationals

   France says that since 14 January 2024 Franco-Malian dual nationals without a visa in their French passport must use a valid Malian passport. Other Malian documents are not accepted ⁴.

5. 30 August 2024In force

   Waiting area for refused passengers opens at Bamako

   EUCAP Sahel Mali says a waiting area was inaugurated in Terminal 2 of Modibo-Keita International Airport for foreign passengers not allowed onto Malian territory ⁵.

6. 17 September 2024Historical

   Bamako airport closed after attack

   Authorities closed the airport after gunmen tried to infiltrate the Faladie gendarme school. It reopened later that day, as reported by the Associated Press ⁶.

7. November 2024Historical

   Sky Mali flies Bamako to Kayes

   Belgium's CGRA reported that Sky Mali ran three weekly flights between Bamako and Kayes ²³.

8. December 2024Announced

   AES opens entry to ECOWAS nationals without visa

   AES heads of state adopted a declaration allowing ECOWAS nationals to enter, move, live and settle in AES states without a visa, as reported by Sidwaya on 14 December 2024 ⁷.

9. 29 January 2025In force

   Mali leaves ECOWAS

   The withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger took effect. ECOWAS asked authorities to keep recognising ECOWAS logo passports and ID cards and free movement rights until further notice ¹.

10. 29 January 2025In force

    AES passport goes into circulation

    The common AES passport went into circulation with an electronic chip, as reported by Sidwaya ⁸.

11. 2 March 2025Historical

    Mauritania expels Malians without residence cards

    Mauritania expelled 528 Malians to Gogui from 2 March 2025 for lacking residence cards, as reported by Koaci on 14 March 2025 ⁹.

12. 30 March 2025Announced

    AES sets 0.5% levy on imports

    Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso set a confederal levy of 0.5% of the customs value of goods from third countries, as reported by AFP. No entry into force date was given ³⁰.

13. 7 April 2025Historical

    Mali and Algeria close airspace to each other

    Algeria banned air traffic with Mali and Mali's Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure closed Malian airspace to flights to and from Algeria until further notice, as reported by Xinhua ¹⁰. Algeria lifted its measure on 10 July 2026, as reported by TSA ²⁸.

14. 1 July 2025Historical

    Attack on Diboli border post

    Armed men attacked police, customs and border offices at Diboli, under 2 km from Kidira in Senegal, as reported by APA ¹¹.

15. 3 September 2025Historical

    JNIM obstructs roads to Mali

    The Institute for Security Studies says JNIM has obstructed traffic on strategic roads since 3 September 2025, including roads to Senegal, Mauritania and Côte d'Ivoire ¹².

16. October 2025Announced

    Mali announces US visa bond reciprocity

    Mali's Foreign Affairs Ministry said it would require US visa applicants to post a bond of up to US$10,000, matching a US measure, as reported by the Associated Press on 13 October 2025 ¹³.

17. November 2025Historical

    Corsair the only direct Europe flight

    Belgium's CGRA reported on 10 December 2025, from Flightradar24 data of 17 November 2025, that Bamako had direct links with 10 countries and that Corsair ran the only direct flight to Europe, from Paris-Orly ²⁴. Its report of 18 December 2024 gave 13 countries ²³.

18. 31 December 2025Announced

    Mali announces reciprocal travel ban on US citizens

    Mali and Burkina Faso announced a travel ban on US citizens in response to an equivalent US measure, as reported by Reuters ¹⁴.

19. 1 January 2026In force

    Mali suspends visas for US citizens

    The US State Department says Mali suspended visa issuance to US citizens from this date, with limited exceptions ².

20. 28 January 2026Announced

    Mali and Guinea transit agreements

    Mali announced road, maritime transport and transit agreements with Guinea, including port space at Conakry, as reported by RFI ¹⁵.

21. 12 April 2026Historical

    Joint mission in the Pogo and Zégoua zone

    Côte d'Ivoire and Mali held a joint technical reconnaissance mission in the Pogo and Zégoua zone from 12 to 19 April 2026 ²⁰.

22. 25 April 2026Historical

    Coordinated attacks close Bamako airport

    Flights were cancelled during coordinated attacks ¹⁶. The UK says the airport closed temporarily ³.

23. 27 April 2026In force

    Reinforced checks on roads to Bamako airport

    Airports of Mali announced reinforced security checks on roads to the airport and asked travellers to allow extra time ¹⁷.

24. May 2026Suspended

    Turkish Airlines and Corsair stop Bamako flights

    Air Journal reported on 10 May 2026 that Turkish Airlines and Corsair had stopped serving Bamako and that Royal Air Maroc kept daily Casablanca flights ²⁵.

25. 5 May 2026Announced

    Labbezanga post retaken

    APA reported that Malian forces retook the Labbezanga post on the Gao to Niamey axis and escort convoys ¹⁸.

26. June 2026Suspended

    Corsair suspension end dates differ

    Air Journal reported on 19 June 2026 that Corsair's Bamako flights were suspended until 30 June 2026 ²⁶. ch-aviation reported on 23 June 2026 that the suspension ran until at least 26 June 2026 ²⁷. This guide found no Corsair statement on a restart date.

27. 8 June 2026In force

    US advisory reissued at Level 4

    The US kept Mali at Level 4 and updated its summary for changes to US Embassy operations ².

28. 15 June 2026Announced

    Air France to close its Bamako office

    A letter dated 15 June 2026 said Air France's local representation would stop work on 30 June 2026, as reported by Air Journal citing AFP ²⁶ and by ch-aviation ²⁷.

29. 10 July 2026In force

    UK advice updated

    The UK FCDO updated its Mali advice, which advises against all travel to the whole country ¹⁹.

30. 10 July 2026Announced

    Algeria reopens its airspace to Mali

    Algeria's Ministry of National Defence reopened Algerian airspace to all flights to and from Mali, as reported by TSA on 10 July 2026 ²⁸. Air Journal reported on 19 July 2026 that Mali reopened its airspace to aircraft flying to or from Algeria, citing no Malian official text ²⁹.

31. 25 August 2026Announced

    Mali and Côte d'Ivoire adopt border route

    A joint commission meeting in Bamako from 21 to 25 August 2026 adopted the final route of the border. The treaty is still to be signed ²⁰.

32. 9 October 2026In force

    Canada advice updated

    Canada updated its Mali page, which says avoid all travel ²¹.

Rules and charges change. Check the official source linked on this page before you pay or travel. Spotted an error? Email [email protected].