The US Department of State warns against all travel to Mali at this time because of fluid political conditions and the loss of government control of Mali’s northern provinces, where factions linked to Al-Qaeda threaten to attack and kidnap Westerners.
However, since the March 21 military coup, Mali’s path toward stabilized legitimate governance has clarified considerably, particularly with the installation of an expanded interim government on Aug. 20.
On Aug. 12, 50,000 people marched for peace in Bamako and urged the government to take action. On Aug. 29, nonemergency personnel returned to the US embassy. Continuing challenges include food shortages and internally displaced persons.