Crime in Mali

In Bamako and parts of southern Mali, violent crime and opportunistic street crime are significant concerns. Northern and border areas face additional risks from bandit attacks, smuggling networks and road crime, especially after dark. Criminal groups may use kidnapping, extortion and attacks on transport routes. Armed groups and terrorism may overlap with criminal activity, but this topic concerns the crime and personal-safety aspects rather than a separate conflict analysis. The Police Nationale mainly handles urban policing and criminal investigations. The Gendarmerie Nationale has a stronger role in peri-urban and rural areas. The Garde Nationale or FAMa may become involved where local police are absent. The Protection Civile responds to emergencies, while the Office Central des Stupéfiants, known as OCS, handles drug-related reporting and enforcement functions. Do not confront traffickers or criminal groups because they may respond violently. For immediate danger, contact the Police at 101, the Gendarmerie at 111, or the Protection Civile at 122. Other reported contacts include CECOGEC at 144 for crisis coordination, the Garde Nationale at 145, and Police secours at 80 00 11 15 or 20 23 95 11. Additional police and gendarmerie numbers include 80 00 11 25 and 80 00 11 14. The police portal can be used for a non-urgent signalement, but its form is not suitable for an acute emergency. Give your location, the type of incident, the number of affected people and other relevant details from a safe place. Keep photographs, screenshots, messages, identity copies and other records when doing so does not create additional danger. The available information does not establish a uniform nationwide response deadline, reporting fee, receipt requirement, evidence standard or victim-confidentiality rule. Rural and conflict-affected areas may have weaker access and slower response capacity, and no standard response-time guarantee has been verified. Gender-based violence, often abbreviated as GBV and locally called Violences basées sur le genre or VBG, is a major victim-support concern. The 80 333 service is associated with reporting and treatment. One Stop Centers, also called Guichet Unique, can combine medical, psychosocial, security and legal or justice-related assistance, but their availability, funding and access vary by location. National reporting has identified 20 centers, while later information indicated that six remained active under funding pressure. Health services, social services and humanitarian or NGO referrals may provide additional support. Children may face separation, exploitation, gender-based violence, forced recruitment and loss of schooling. The Direction nationale de la protection judiciaire des enfants, known as DNPEF, social services, community protection structures, police and justice services, and child-friendly spaces can form part of a protection referral. A child affected by a crime may need both a report to the Police Nationale or Gendarmerie Nationale and an immediate protection referral. Services are not equally available in every region. Digital crime is covered by Mali's Law No. 2019-056 of 5 December 2019. The Pôle judiciaire de Lutte contre la Cybercriminalité handles the judicial cybercrime function. Police warnings advise people not to disclose bank codes or passwords and to reject online payment demands from people claiming to be police officers. Report a cyber incident through Police 101 or the police signalement channel. A national cybersecurity strategy for 2026–2030 and an Agence nationale de la Sécurité des Systèmes d’Information are being developed, but the full operational status of that system has not been established. Everyday precautions reduce exposure without guaranteeing safety. Avoid walking alone at night and isolated places, use ATMs carefully, travel between locations during daylight when possible, arrange trusted transport in advance, lock vehicle doors and keep windows closed. Avoid predictable movement patterns and leave the area quickly during a vehicle attack if a safe way out is available. Keep separate copies of passport and visa documents. Treat checkpoints, roadblocks and informal payment demands as both security and corruption risks, and document them only when this can be done safely. Victim assistance may involve police or gendarmerie, health and social services, humanitarian organizations and NGOs. Recent protection programs have reported child-friendly spaces, mobile units, individual case management and GBV services, but these figures describe supported programs rather than a nationwide entitlement or guaranteed service level. Mali has no verified, comparable nationwide crime prevalence series covering all offences and regions, so police, GBV, humanitarian and travel-security figures should not be interpreted as one overall crime rate.