Mali has imposed sweeping restrictions on motorcycle use outside major towns as part of efforts to curb the operations of jihadist groups. The government says insecurity has worsened in recent months, with armed groups increasingly reliant on motorcycles for rapid movement across rural areas where state authority is weak.
The measures were announced in a government order broadcast on national television on Wednesday evening. The order covers both movement controls and tighter regulation of motorcycle imports and sales.
With immediate effect, the circulation of motorcycles with engine capacities of 125cc and above has been suspended outside major cities and designated urban centres nationwide.
Exemptions apply to Bamako, the capital, as well as regional capitals and selected urban localities where civilian transport needs remain high and security conditions are more stable.
Officials stated that the ban targets the use of high-powered motorcycles in rural and semi-rural areas. Jihadist groups have frequently used them to man checkpoints, ambush military convoys, and attack transport routes.
The directive also suspends the importation, transit, marketing, sale, and distribution of motorcycles of 125cc and above across the country. Accessories associated with those motorcycles are included in the ban.
The government argues that restricting access to such motorcycles will reduce the operational capacity of armed groups that depend on them for reconnaissance, rapid assaults, and escape across difficult terrain.
Mali continues to face a deepening security crisis driven by insurgent activity linked to Al-Qaeda-affiliated groups and Tuareg separatist movements.
The situation worsened following coordinated attacks on military positions by jihadist fighters and separatist allies in late April, which exposed weaknesses in the country’s security arrangements.
Since 30th April, armed groups have reportedly blocked several highways leading into Bamako, disrupting the movement of goods and civilians. Dozens of buses and freight lorries have also been destroyed along major transport corridors.
Insurgent advances have led to significant territorial losses in northern Mali. Most notably, Kidal, a town of strategic importance and a long-standing focal point of conflict with separatist and extremist groups, is reported to have fallen.
The loss has been described as a major setback for the military junta that seized power in 2020, and has raised fresh doubts about the government’s ability to reassert control over the entire country.
Authorities maintain that the motorcycle restrictions are part of a broader strategy to restore order, limit the reach of insurgents, and strengthen security in vulnerable regions.
While the measures will inevitably affect civilian transport and commerce in rural areas, officials insist they are necessary to counter the evolving tactics of armed groups and stabilise a deteriorating security environment.