Mali Country Report
Overview
Executive Summary
Operational Outlook
Mali embraces an economic liberalisation strategy and its government wants to attract and retain foreign investment. However, due to increasing jihadist and inter-communal violence, Mali's operational environment remains unstable and liable to change at short notice. Further challenges include regular labour strikes, public protests, corruption, and inadequate infrastructure as road and rail networks are underdeveloped. Mali is landlocked and depends for imports and exports on seaports in neighbouring countries, including Benin, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Senegal, and Togo.
Terrorism
Co-operation between Al-Qaeda-linked jihadist groups and Islamic State affiliates increases their capacity in northern and central Mali, and their ability to stage attacks across borders, particularly in Burkina Faso and Niger, with risks spreading to southern Mali and coastal West Africa. Jihadists' strategy of fomenting traditional inter-communal rivalries will further destabilise Mali and the Sahel region. Ex-insurgents' withdrawal from peace talks in September 2019 increases the risk of a link-up with jihadists in northern Mali. Despite increased international support, the regional G-5 Sahel counter-terrorism force will likely remain stalled by logistical, co-ordination, and financial constraints.
Crime
There is a high level of crime and insecurity in northern and central regions, given the large presence of criminal and terrorist groups that operate in the desert border regions with Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, and Niger trafficking in contrabands. Unofficial roadblocks set up by criminals, militants, and Malian security forces have been known to extort from travellers. The Malian police force lacks adequate resources for effective policing.
War Risks
Interstate war risks are low due to Mali's close counter-terrorism co-operation with its neighbours. However, jihadist and inter-communal violence in northern and central Mali and former insurgents' withdrawal in September 2019 from talks on implementing the 2015 northern peace agreement pose very high civil war risks, particularly around Kidal. Co-operation between Al-Qaeda jihadist groups, which want to scupper the deal, and Islamic State affiliates deepens the Islamist militant conflict, which has spread across Mali's borders and is likely to remain intractable in the one-year outlook.
Health Risk
Vaccinations required to enter the country
Proof of vaccination against yellow fever is required for all travelers over the age of one year entering the country.
Routine Vaccinations
Hepatitis A: A vaccine is available for anyone over one year of age. The vaccine may not be effective for certain people, e.g. those born before 1945 and who lived as a child in a developing country and/or have a past history of jaundice (icterus). These people can instead get a shot of immune globulin (IG) to boost their immunity against the disease.
Hepatitis B: A vaccine is available for children at least two months old.
Diphtheria-Tetanus-Polio: A booster shot should be administered if necessary (once every ten years).
Other Vaccinations
Typhoid Fever: If your travels take you to regions with poor sanitary conditions (for children two years old and up).
Rabies: For prolonged stays in an isolated region (for children from when they can walk).
Meningococcal Meningitis: For prolonged stays, or in case your travels will put you in close contact with a local population affected by an epidemic of the disease (for children over the age of two years).
Malaria: Recommended preventive medication - chloroquine and proguanil (sometimes marketed as Paludrine ) or proguanil and atovaquone (sometimes marketed as Mepron).
For Children: All standard childhood immunizations should be up-to-date. In the case of a long stay, the BCG vaccine is recommended for children over one month and the MMR (measles-mumps-rubella) vaccine for children over nine months.
Natural Risks
Bamako's rainy season lasts from June to October and can lead to large-scale flash flooding and landslides. In July and August 2016, torrential rains hit the country, killing 14 people. Due to the lack of water drainage infrastructures, roads are often impassable and the supply of basic services disrupted.
Transportation
Transportation conditions are particularly dangerous in Mali. With the exception of main roads, most roads are unpaved, posing a significant risk especially during the rainy season (June to October).
The lack of public lighting, dangerous driving habits, and old vehicles also increase the danger of driving. For any road travel, be sure to pack water, food, and fuel reserves. Only drive by daylight and take a vehicle with four-wheel drive. Travelers should also bring a GPS and a satellite phone. Make sure that the vehicle contains mechanical spare parts (wheels, cables, etc.). Accidents may easily escalate into a violent riot in the event of fatalities. In case of an accident, travelers should remain in their vehicle and proceed immediately to the nearest police station. On roads in northern and central Mali there is also the risk of mines and improvised explosive devices (IEDs); driving should be avoided.
Long-distance road travel can be extremely dangerous. Bandits are active on the roads, always armed, and potentially violent. Carjackings are frequent throughout the country. It is advised to drive with doors locked and windows rolled up.
Finally, be advised that the rail lines connecting Bamako to Dakar are unsafe.
Infrastructure
In addition to the general lack of in access to electricity throughout the territory (25.6 percent of the population has access), power cuts are common in Mali, particularly in Bamako.
Interruptions to the current water supply are regular, including in the capital. This is particularly due to a drought affecting the country but also to power outages that disrupt the operation of water pumping stations, as well as dilapidated water infrastructures. In the northern part of the country, the access rate to water is below the national average, mainly due to the insecurity prevailing in the region.
Individuals using internet in the country occasionally lose access to social networks, which are sometimes cut by the authorities.
Practical Information
Climate
Generally speaking, Mali's rainy season lasts from July until September, but is shorter in the Sahel region (in the north of the country). The further south you travel, the more common and abundant rains become. Temperatures can reach 30°C during the months of July, August, December, and January, even reaching 40°C - 50°C in certain regions.
Useful Numbers
| Country Code: | +223 |
| Police in Bamako: | 20 22 52 27 or 20 22 52 28 or 20 22 44 05 |
Electricity
Voltage: 220 V ~ 50 Hz
Outlets:
Social Stability
A further postponement of legislative elections until May 2020 and President Keita's attempts to reintroduce a controversial constitutional referendum are likely to trigger anti-government demonstrations in major towns in the six-month outlook, which will probably be violently dispersed by police. Intercommunal fighting poses stability risks in central and northern Mali, exacerbated by the faltering peace agreement between the government and armed groups, and expanding operations by Islamist militants. Local protests against foreign troops are likely in the capital Bamako and the northern towns of Gao, Timbuktu and Kidal.