The governor of the Kayes region has imposed a curfew from midnight to 6:00 a.m., effective May 13, 2026, until further notice.
This measure comes amid a deteriorating security situation in western Mali, marked by increasing pressure on the corridors linking the country to Senegal and Mauritania.
In his statement regarding the new curfew, effective May 13, the regional governor, Brigadier General Moussa Soumaré, announced that the movement of people and vehicles will be prohibited between midnight and 6:00 a.m. throughout the region.
Exceptions are made for vehicles belonging to the defense and security forces, as well as ambulances with official mission orders.
The official statement also calls for strict adherence to the curfew hours around military camps and other sites designated by the security services.
This decision represents a further step in the movement restrictions imposed on Kayes since the worsening security situation in western Mali. On April 29, 2026, a previous curfew had already been imposed from 9:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.
The new measure reduces the hours covered, while maintaining the principle of nighttime movement restrictions in this strategic region.
Located in western Mali, bordering Senegal and Mauritania, the Kayes region plays a central role in the country’s economic exchanges, particularly through the Dakar-Bamako and Nouakchott-Bamako corridors.
Several security analyses highlight that this area has become particularly vulnerable to the advance of armed groups in western Mali. The security situation deteriorated following the coordinated
attacks of July 1, 2025, claimed by the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM), via the Macina Liberation Front.
Several Malian army positions were simultaneously targeted in Niono, Molodo, Sandare, Nioro du Sahel, Gogui, Kayes, and Diboli.
These operations highlighted the armed groups’ ability to extend their activities to the western border areas of the country.
Specialised research centers believe this dynamic has increased the risks to trade routes, border towns, and strategic economic infrastructure. The Kayes region is a crucial supply corridor for Mali
and is home to significant mining and hydroelectric infrastructure, including the Manantali, Félou, and Gouina dams, which are part of the Senegal River Basin Development Organization (OMVS).
Movement restrictions in the region were already documented in 2025.
Humanitarian reports indicated a nighttime curfew, restrictions on motorcycles and certain vehicles, and an increase in security incidents in the region.
According to several regional analyses, the advance of JNIM in western Mali is bringing extremist violence closer to the Senegalese and Mauritanian borders, impacting economic activity and cross-border movement.
Malian authorities are therefore presenting this new curfew as a measure intended to strengthen the monitoring of movement, protect sensitive infrastructure, and prevent infiltration into this strategic border area.
No lifting date has been announced.
The authorities indicate that the measure will remain in effect until further notice, depending on how the security situation evolves in the Kayes region.
MD/te/Sf/fss/as/APA