France and UK Urge Nationals to Evacuate Mali Immediately — Situation 'Extremely Volatile'; Commercial Flights Limited

On April 29, 2026, France issued a formal evacuation advisory urging all French nationals in Mali — estimated at approximately 7,200 people, of whom ~4,200 are registered and ~3,000 are unregistered dual nationals — to leave 'as soon as possible' on remaining available commercial flights. The French Foreign Ministry described the situation in Mali as 'extremely volatile' and advised those unable to depart immediately to remain at home and limit all movement. The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office issued a similar advisory the same day. The French advisory came four days after the April 25 nationwide JNIM-FLA offensive and three days after France 24 first characterized the situation as a 'dramatic setback for the Malian government.' Bloomberg News reported that France was urging citizens to leave as 'rebels vow to oust junta,' underscoring the severity of the political threat alongside the security deterioration. The US Embassy had separately issued a security alert on April 28 warning American citizens in Bamako of 'possible terrorist movements within the city' and advising them to shelter in place. The combined French, British, and US advisories represent a coordinated Western assessment that the security environment in Bamako had deteriorated to an unprecedented level. The Malian junta did not officially respond to the evacuation advisories; government spokesperson Issa Ousmane Coulibaly continued to maintain that the situation was 'under control.' Daily Maverick noted that commercial flights from Bamako's Modibo Keïta International Airport — the site of Africa Corps helicopter patrols during the April 25 attacks — remained limited and in high demand.