Travel Information
Security and Travel Update
U.S. Embassy in Bamako, Mali
Travel to Essakane Music Festival
December 31, 2008
This Warden Message is being released to urge American citizens against travel to the January 8-10, 2009, Festival in the Desert situated in the town of Essakane northwest of Timbuktu. The U.S. Embassy in Bamako, Mali, has received information regarding threats against westerners attending this festival. This message is in addition to long-standing guidance against travel to northern Mali included in the Safety and Security section of the Country Specific Information; the Travel Alert for Mali released on December 10, 2008; and the Warden Message released on December 29, 2008.
Travelers in Mali should be aware that visits by U.S. government employees to Timbuktu, the region of Kidal, and areas to the north and east of the town of Gao, must be approved by the Embassy’s Chief of Mission due to security concerns. This includes the village of Essakane and the January 2009 Festival in the Desert.
All travelers to Mali are encouraged to register with the U.S. Embassy at https://travelregistration.state.gov. Travelers may also register in person at the Embassy, Monday through Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Friday from 08:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. The U.S. Embassy in Bamako is located at ACI 2000, Rue 243, Porte 297 in Bamako. The Embassy telephone number is 2070-2300. For after-hours emergencies, please call the Duty Officer (6675-2860) or Post One: 2070-2301/20702302. The consular section email address is consularbamako@state.gov.
For additional information on travel to Mali, see the Department’s Travel Alert and the Country Specific Information for Mali, available via the Department's website http://travel.state.gov. Up-to-date information on security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free within the U.S. and Canada, or, for callers elsewhere, by calling the toll line 202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).