France urges citizens to leave Mali after rebel attacks

France has urged its citizens to leave Mali "as soon as possible", after a weekend of co-ordinated attacks by separatist fighters and Islamist militants.

In an update on Wednesday, the advice also warned French citizens not to travel to the West African nation, describing the situation as "extremely volatile".

Explosions and sustained gunfire were reported across the country, including the capital, Bamako on Saturday. In Kati, the defence leader Sadio Camara was killed in an apparent suicide bombing by militants, while in the north, separatist forces have taken control of the city of Kidal.

Mali's military leader Gen Assimi Goïta said the security situation in the country was under control.

Speaking in public for the first time on Tuesday evening, he said the army had dealt a "violent blow" to the attackers.

The foreign ministry of France, Mali's former colonial power, said: "French nationals are advised to make arrangements to leave Mali temporarily as soon as possible on the commercial flights that are still available."

Pending their departure, they should stay at home, limit their movements and follow instructions from local authorities, it said, adding that they should also keep their relatives informed.

"Travel to Mali is still strongly discouraged, regardless of the reason."

The UK has also advised against travel to Mali, and asked its citizens to leave.

The foreign office advised "against all travel to Mali due to the unpredictable security conditions".

The travel guidelines - which have been in place since the weekend - told British citizens in Mali to "leave immediately by commercial flight if you judge it safe to do so".

It also warned them not to travel by land to neighbouring countries, deeming it "too dangerous" due to what it called "terrorist attacks along national highways".

"If you choose to remain in Mali, you do so at your own risk. You should have a personal emergency plan that does not rely on the UK government," the foreign office added.

On Saturday, fighting was reported in Bamako, Kati, home to a major military base outside the capital, as well as in Gao and Kidal in the north, and the central cities of Sevare and Mopti. Clashes reportedly continued into Sunday in Kidal and Kati.

Reports suggest the assault by the separatist Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) - which seeks a breakaway ethnic Tuareg state - was primarily focused on northern cities, while the jihadist group Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) had staged simultaneous attacks on multiple locations across the country.

Mali is currently ruled by a military junta led by Goïta, who first seized power in a coup in 2020, promising to restore security and push back armed groups.