Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09STATE56745
2009-06-02 21:26:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Secretary of State
Cable title:  

TRAVEL WARNING: MALI

Tags:  CASC PTER ASEC ML 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO8812
OO RUEHAG RUEHAO RUEHAP RUEHAST RUEHAT RUEHBC RUEHBI RUEHBL RUEHBZ
RUEHCD RUEHCHI RUEHCI RUEHCN RUEHDA RUEHDBU RUEHDE RUEHDF RUEHDH
RUEHDT RUEHDU RUEHED RUEHEL RUEHFK RUEHFL RUEHGA RUEHGD RUEHGH RUEHGI
RUEHGR RUEHHA RUEHHM RUEHHO RUEHHT RUEHIHL RUEHIK RUEHJO RUEHJS RUEHKN
RUEHKR RUEHKSO RUEHKUK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLH RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHMA
RUEHMC RUEHMJ RUEHMR RUEHMRE RUEHMT RUEHNAG RUEHNEH RUEHNG RUEHNH
RUEHNL RUEHNP RUEHNZ RUEHPA RUEHPB RUEHPD RUEHPOD RUEHPT RUEHPW RUEHQU
RUEHRD RUEHRG RUEHRN RUEHROV RUEHRS RUEHSK RUEHTM RUEHTRO RUEHVC
RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHC #6745 1532139
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 022126Z JUN 09
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO ALL DIPLOMATIC AND CONSULAR POSTS COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RUEHPH/CDC ATLANTA IMMEDIATE 7572
RUCPDOC/ALL USDOC DISTDIR COLLECTIVE WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RHMCSUU/CDRAMC FT BELVOIR VA//AMCMI-SS// IMMEDIATE
RUEAHQA/HQ USAF WASHINGTON DC//XOXXI// IMMEDIATE
RHMCSUU/HQ AFOSI DOQ ANDREWS AFB MD//IVOA// IMMEDIATE
RHMCSUU/FAA NATIONAL HQ WASHINGTON DC//ACI-400// IMMEDIATE
RHMCSUU/COMNAVAIRSYSCOM PATUXENT RIVER MD//AIR1031B// IMMEDIATE
RHMFIUU/NRC WASHINGTON DC//INFOSEC// IMMEDIATE
RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL//CCJ2-JIT// IMMEDIATE
RUCPCIM/CIM NTDB WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RHMCSUU/COGARD INTELCOORDCEN WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RHMFIUU/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI IMMEDIATE
RHMFISS/CDR USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL IMMEDIATE
RUEHTRO/AMEMBASSY TRIPOLI IMMEDIATE 7650
RUEHTN/AMCONSUL CAPE TOWN IMMEDIATE 7656
INFO RUESBKC/ATO ASIA IMMEDIATE 1873
UNCLAS STATE 056745 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CASC PTER ASEC ML
SUBJECT: TRAVEL WARNING: MALI

UNCLAS STATE 056745

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CASC PTER ASEC ML
SUBJECT: TRAVEL WARNING: MALI


1. The Department of State warns U.S. citizens of the
risks of travel to Mali and recommends against all travel
to the north of the country due to the kidnapping threats
against Westerners.


2. Al-Qaeda in the Land of the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM)
has been designated as a terrorist organization by both
the United States and the European Union, and has
declared its intention to attack Western targets. AQIM
uses northern Mali as a safe haven and platform from
which to conduct operations. AQIM kidnapped two Canadian
diplomats in Niger in December 2008 and four European
tourists along the Mali-Niger border in January 2009.
All were believed to be held in northern Mali; the
Canadians and two of the Europeans were released in April

2009. The U.S. Embassy's ability to assist American
citizens in northern Mali is severely limited.


3. In addition to threats posed by AQIM and potential
hostage takers, confrontations between the Malian
military and Tuareg rebel groups occurred in Nampala
along Mali's frontier with Mauritania in December 2008,
and in the region of Kidal in January 2009. The threat
posed by AQIM, continued Tuareg unrest, sporadic
banditry, and the porous nature of Mali's northern
borders with Algeria, Niger, and Mauritania all reinforce
longstanding security concerns affecting travel to
northern Mali.


4. U.S. Government employees in Mali are required to
have the written approval of the U.S. Ambassador to Mali
prior to traveling to the region of Kidal, areas north
and east of the town of Gao, including along the road to
Ansongo, the town of Timbuktu, and points further north.
This restriction includes the site of the popular Tuareg
music festival at Essakane, north of Timbuktu.


5. All American citizens residing or traveling in Mali
are urged to register with the Department of State or the
U.S. Embassy through the State Department's travel
registration website,
https://travelregistration.state.gov. By registering,
American citizens make it easier for the Embassy to
contact them in case of emergency. The U.S. Embassy is
located at ACI 2000 at Rue 243, Porte 297. The Embassy's
mailing address is B.P. 34, Bamako, Mali. The Embassy's
telephone number is (223) 2070-2300. For after-hours
emergencies, please call (223) 2070-2301 or 2302. The
consular fax number is (223) 2070-2340. The Embassy
webpage is http://mali.usembassy.gov.


6. Updated information on travel and security in Mali
may be obtained from the Department of State by calling
1-888-407-4747 toll-free within the United States and
Canada or, for callers outside of the United States and
Canada, on a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444. For
further information, please consult the Country Specific
Information for Mali and the Worldwide Caution, which are
available on the Bureau of Consular Affairs Internet
website at http://travel.state.gov.


7. Minimize considered.
CLINTON