Large-engine motorcycles are now banned for a renewable one-year period outside major urban centers. Mali’s transitional government says the measure aims to limit the movement of armed terrorist groups. The import, transit, sale and distribution of these two-wheelers are also suspended nationwide for the same duration. The decision has been met with skepticism among many Malians, especially those living in rural areas.
The ban was announced via an interministerial decree on national television earlier this month. “The circulation of motorcycles with a displacement of 125 cc or more outside major urban areas is suspended throughout the national territory,” the decree states. Bamako district, as well as regional, cercle and arrondissement capitals, are considered major urban agglomerations for this purpose.
Regional governors given adaptation powers
However, regional governors have the authority to adapt or prohibit these motorcycles in cercle capitals depending on local security conditions. A resident of the Bandiagara cercle in central Mali, who requested anonymity, said enforcement would be difficult in his area. “Yes, it will be difficult because in Dogon country, these bikes are suited to our environment. We live in mountainous areas with roads of steep slopes and inclines. They are extremely useful. Whether it’s our FAMa (Malian armed forces), humanitarian workers, or us farmers, everyone uses them. Large motorcycles even replace ambulances in our zone to transport the sick to health centers,” he explained.
Worries and concerns
In the city of Mopti, also in central Mali, owners of large motorcycles show visible concern. They regularly travel to nearby villages by bike for farming, livestock, or fishing activities. One Mopti resident welcomed the ban on 125 cc and larger bikes outside major cities for security reasons but worried about potential fallout. “We go from village to village daily for our work. But since the announcement of the suspension, most of us have parked our bikes. I used to deliver bread to many residents in villages far from Mopti city,” he said.
Armed groups use large motorcycles as an easy way to move across the territory and carry out terrorist attacks. Yet civilians also rely on these rugged two-wheelers for daily activities and earning a living, lacking alternative transportation. In late April 2026, a major coordinated attack on several towns was carried out by jihadists from Jnim and their allies from the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA). This radical security measure highlights the severity of Mali’s crisis, but many analysts say it comes with a heavy social cost.
