Mali - IS Issues Evacuation Warning in Gao Region

Gao - December 31, 2025 ; The Islamic State (IS) in the Sahel province has issued an audio warning to residents in the Aribanda region, located south of the Niger River, instructing them to relocate to the north bank within seven days. The warning comes amid ongoing clashes between the Islamic State and the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (GSIM), which are concentrated in this corridor stretching from Labbezanga-Tessit-Intillit to the outskirts of Doro, passing through Gossi in the Timbuktu region. Villages directly affected by this warning include: Inachoulagh, Dougui, Morsi, Oussadja, Farfaroudji, Intassalefen, Tiaraghnine, Tinaykaran, Tabkachoum, Abou Ghali, and Ibaray. Authorities are monitoring the situation closely, given the heightened risk to civilian populations amid the ongoing confrontations between armed groups in the area.