France urges citizens to leave ‘extremely volatile’ Mali ‘as soon as possible’

France on Wednesday urged its nationals in Mali to leave “as soon as possible”, citing weekend attacks by jihadists and Tuareg separatists and an “extremely volatile” security situation.

The ‌security situation remains volatile and ⁠pending their departure, French citizens should stay at home, limit ​movement and follow instructions from ‌local authorities while keeping relatives informed, the French foreign ministry said. All ‌travel to Mali is strongly discouraged, the ​updated travel guidelines said.

“Travel to Mali is still strongly discouraged, regardless of the reason,” the foreign ministry said in its updated guidelines.

“French nationals are advised to make arrangements to leave Mali temporarily as soon as possible on the commercial flights that are still available.”

Read moreMali junta leader vows crackdown after insurgent attacks shake Bamako and north

West Africa’s al Qaeda affiliate and a Tuareg-dominated separatist group hit ​Mali’s main army base and ​the area near Bamako’s airport ​in the attacks on Saturday, while ​also pushing Russian troops supporting government forces out of the strategic town of Kidal in the north.

The leader ⁠of Mali’s military government vowed on ⁠Tuesday ​to “neutralize” those responsible.

(FRANCE 24 with AFP and Reuters)