Mali motorcycle ban measures now restrict 125cc-and-above bikes outside major urban centres as authorities try to curb jihadist mobility during a blockade of routes into Bamako.
A government order read on national television Wednesday evening suspended the circulation of motorcycles with engines of 125cc and above outside major urban centres across Mali. The order exempted Bamako, regional capitals and some urban areas.
Authorities also suspended the import, transit, marketing, sale and free distribution of 125cc-and-above motorcycles and related accessories nationwide. The order came as officials said armed groups rely heavily on motorcycles for transport.
Mali has faced a deepening security crisis since coordinated attacks on April 25 and 26 by Al-Qaeda-linked jihadists and Tuareg separatists. The groups have blocked several key routes into Bamako since April 30, torching buses and freight trucks.
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Armed groups have also captured areas in northern Mali, including the strategic town of Kidal. The security pressure has mounted on the ruling military junta, which seized power in 2020.
