Mali junta bans motorcycles outside cities and creates military zones to reduce militant attacks
The ban covers motorcycles with engines of 125 cc and above as militants rely on them to move quickly and attack convoys, officials said.
- On Wednesday, Mali's military government banned large motorcycles outside urban areas and designated 35 restricted military zones to curb frequent attacks by militant groups.
- Militants frequently use motorcycles to traverse Sahelian terrain for rapid attacks and withdrawals, often targeting convoys transporting goods to Bamako where vehicles are regularly set ablaze.
- The government prohibited civilian entry into 35 locations termed "zones of military interests," primarily forests, where the Armed Forces General Staff systematically targets detected activity.
- An April offensive by JNIM and the Azawad Liberation Front killed former Defence Minister Sadio Camara and included a blockade on Bamako, prompting the restrictions.
- Motorcycles with engine displacements of 125 cubic centimetres and higher are now illegal outside urban centers, as authorities attempt to disrupt insurgent mobility in The West African nation.
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17 Articles
Associated Press News
Mali junta bans motorcycles outside cities and creates military zones to reduce militant attacks
The military government of Mali has banned large motorcycles outside major urban areas and established military zones that are off limits to civilians.
In Mali, on 3 June 2026 the transitional authorities banned by interministerial decree the movement of motorcycles outside the major cities throughout the territory. A drastic measure with immediate effect, taken to fight against armed groups and which will upset the daily lives of many Malians. The motorcycle has become inescapable, especially in rural areas. This decision arouses a lot of reactions, rarely enthusiastic. The authorities have al…
The Malian authorities have banned the movement of motorcycles of "125 cm3 and above" throughout the country except for the capital and certain capitals, which directly targets the jihadist groups operating in the country.
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