The transitional government of Mali has imposed a one-year ban, renewable, on the circulation of large-displacement motorcycles outside major urban centres. The measure, announced through an interministerial order on national television, is intended to limit the mobility of armed terrorist groups. Importation, transit, sale and distribution of these two-wheeled vehicles are also suspended nationwide for the same period. The decision has been met with scepticism among many Malians, particularly in rural areas.
“The circulation of motorcycles with a displacement of 125 cc or more outside large urban agglomerations is suspended throughout the national territory.” The capital district of Bamako, as well as regional, cercle and arrondissement capitals, are considered large agglomerations under the order.
Power to adapt
Regional governors have the authority to adapt or prohibit these motorcycles in cercle capitals depending on local security conditions. A resident of Bandiagara, in central Mali, who requested anonymity, expressed doubts about enforcement. “Yes, it will be difficult because in the Dogon country, these bikes are adapted to our environment. We live in mountainous areas with steep roads. They are extremely useful. Whether it is our FAMa [Malian armed forces], humanitarian workers, or us farmers, everyone uses them. Large-displacement motorcycles even replace ambulances in our area to transport the sick to health centres.”
Concerns
In Mopti, also in central Mali, anxiety is visible among owners of large-displacement motorcycles who regularly travel to nearby villages for agriculture, livestock, or fishing. A resident of Mopti welcomed the suspension for security reasons but worried about the consequences: “We go from village to village daily for our activities. Since the suspension was announced, most of us have parked our bikes. I was delivering bread to several villages far from Mopti.”
Large-displacement motorcycles are used by armed groups for easy mobility across the territory to carry out terrorist attacks. But they are also essential for populations who rely on these robust two-wheelers for daily activities and livelihoods, lacking alternative means of transport. In late April 2026, a large coordinated attack on several towns was carried out by Jnim jihadists and their allies of the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA). This radical security measure highlights the severity of the crisis in Mali, but at a high social cost, many analysts say.
