The Malian government has enforced a 30-day renewable night curfew across the Kayes and Dioïla regions following a wave of coordinated terrorist attacks on military outposts on Tuesday, July 1. The curfew, aimed at curbing militant activity and restoring public safety, restricts movement from 9:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. in Kayes, and from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. in Dioïla. Only members of the security forces and emergency medical services are exempt.
The decision follows seven near-simultaneous attacks in the towns of Ségou, Nioro du Sahel, and Kayes, which targeted garrisons and security installations. According to a statement aired on national military television, Malian Armed Forces (FAMa) successfully repelled the offensives and killed more than 80 militants believed to be affiliated with al-Qaeda-linked Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM).
These attacks come amid rising violence in the Sahel, where jihadist groups have expanded operations across Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger. The Malian government, which has been under military rule since 2020, continues to battle insurgent groups while reorganizing its security structure following the withdrawal of French and UN peacekeeping forces. Regional authorities say the curfew is necessary to prevent further destabilization and ensure public cooperation as military operations continue.
