Location: Mali
Event: Ongoing COVID-19 Response
The Government of Mali has announced that as of April 26 there are 389 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Mali, including 23 deaths and 112 recoveries.
The U.S. Embassy in Bamako is aware of the hardship current travel restrictions have created for U.S. citizens who need to return to the United States. The U.S. Embassy is exploring all options to address the current travel disruptions and remains in close contact with the airlines regarding commercial flight options. At this time, there are no flights scheduled, and the U.S. Embassy is not currently organizing any repatriation flights. All information about future flights to the United States will be announced through the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). If you are not enrolled in STEP, please register at step.state.gov.
The Embassy is compiling a list of U.S. citizens, Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR), and other travelers interested in flights to the United States. If you wish to travel to the United States, please complete and submit the information in this form to indicate your interest. Please make sure you provide a correct email address that you can access regularly. This form is authorized by the U.S. Department of State for collection of personally identifiable information. Your information will be used for internal purposes only and will not be shared. Please note that one form must be submitted for each interested traveler (including children and non-U.S. citizen accompanying family members). If after completing the form you wish to provide additional information to the Consular Section, please contact us by email at ACSBamako@state.gov.
The U.S. Embassy in Bamako has suspended routine nonimmigrant visa appointments. Visit the Visas section of the Embassy website for updates.
The U.S. Embassy continues to offer limited American citizen services by appointment only. Visit the U.S. Citizens Services section of the website to schedule an appointment. Please note, because of public health measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the U.S. Department of State has severely limited its passport operations. The Consular Section is still offering passport and Consular Reports of Birth Abroad (CRBA) appointments, but there will be significant delays in receiving these documents due to the limited production operations in U.S. passport centers. Please consider waiting to apply until we resume normal operations.
If you have previously applied for a passport or citizenship service, you should expect significant delays receiving your passport. Contact us at ACSBamako@state.gov to check the status of your passport or citizenship document (such as a CRBA).
In an emergency, the U.S. Embassy can assist with an emergency passport for an adult or a minor. For emergency passport services, please contact us at ACSBamako@state.gov to schedule an appointment.
Due to the possibility of an extended disruption, please refer to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website for the most recent information on what you can do to reduce your risk of contracting COVID-19.
The Government of Mali has implemented enhanced screening and quarantine measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19. The government has prohibited flights coming from countries with confirmed cases of COVID-19. This led to cancellations of flights into and out of Mali. The Malian government has also closed land borders to passenger traffic. Travelers should be prepared for additional travel restrictions to go into effect with little or no advance notice.
The Government of Mali has taken the following additional steps:
- Schools and universities are closed until May 9, 2020.
- Sporting events, festivals, and gatherings larger than 50 people have been banned, and bars and night clubs have also been closed.
- There is a daily curfew from 9:00 p.m. until 5:00 a.m.
- Vehicle occupancy has been restricted to promote social distancing.
- The work schedule for all government offices (with the exception of defense, security, and health) has been reduced to 7:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.
- The General Directorate for Commerce and Competition set price limits for essential goods, including sugar, rice, cooking oil, and bread.
- Operating hours of certain stores are through June 30, 2020. Open-air markets (including vegetable stands and livestock markets) are open from 6:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Sunday. Supermarkets and other food stores are open from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Small neighborhood shops are open from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Monday through Sunday.
Visit the Malian Ministry of Health website for updated information on COVID-19 in Mali.
The Department of State has issued a Global Level 4 Health Advisory for COVID-19. The CDC has issued a Level 3 Global COVID-19 Pandemic Notice.
On March 14, the Department of State authorized the departure from any diplomatic or consular post in the world of US personnel and family members who have been determined to be at higher risk of a poor outcome if exposed to COVID-19. The Embassy has encouraged any Embassy staff with underlying health concerns to consider departing post. U.S. personnel were also advised to ensure they have sufficient supplies of prescription drugs on hand in case of future shortages.
U.S. government personnel are prohibited from leaving the City of Bamako.
Actions to Take:
- Consult the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website for the most up-to-date information.
- Visit the COVID-19 crisis page on travel.state.gov for the latest information.
- Check with your airlines or travel operators regarding any updated information about your travel plans and/or restrictions.
- Visit our Embassy webpage on COVID-19.
- Visit the Department of Homeland Security’s website on the latest travel restrictions to the United States.
- Review the Malian Ministry of Health’s website.
- Enroll in Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive Alerts.
Assistance: