Mali suspends motorcycle traffic beyond city limits in terror fight

Motorcycles with large engine displacement are now banned for a renewable one-year period outside major urban centres. The transitional government says the measure aims to limit the movement of terrorist armed groups. The import, transit, sale and distribution of such two-wheelers are also suspended nationwide for the same duration. The decision has been met with scepticism among many Malians, especially in rural areas.

The announcement came through an interministerial decree broadcast on national television at the beginning of the month. “The circulation of motorcycles with engine displacement of 125cc and above outside large agglomerations is suspended across the entire national territory.” The district of Bamako, regional capitals, circle capitals and district capitals are considered large agglomerations for this purpose.

Adaptive authority

However, regional governors have the power to adapt or prohibit these motorcycles in circle capitals depending on the local security situation.

This resident of Bandiagara circle, in central Mali, spoke on condition of anonymity. According to him, enforcing the measure will be difficult in his locality. “Yes, it will be difficult because in Dogon country, these motorcycles are suited to our environment. We live in mountainous areas with roads that have steep slopes and ramps. They are very useful. Whether it is our FAMa (Malian armed forces), humanitarian workers, or us farmers, everyone uses them. Large motorcycles even replace ambulances in our area to transport patients to health centres.”

Concerns

In Mopti, also in central Mali, anxiety is visible on the faces of large-motorcycle owners. They regularly travel to surrounding villages on their bikes for farming, livestock or fishing activities. A Mopti resident welcomes the suspension of 125cc motorcycles beyond large cities for security reasons but worries about the consequences: “We go from village to village daily for our activities. But since the announcement of the suspension, most of us have parked our bikes. I used to deliver bread to many residents of villages far from Mopti.”

Large motorcycles are used by armed groups, who see them as a way to move easily across the country to carry out terrorist attacks. But populations also use these robust two-wheelers for daily activities to support their families, lacking alternative transport. In late April 2026, a large coordinated attack against several towns was carried out by Jnim jihadists and their allies from the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA). This radical security measure highlights the seriousness of the crisis in Mali, but many analysts say it comes with a high social cost.