In a statement by the French Foreign Ministry, which emphasized that the terrorist threat is high in Sub-Saharan Africa, it was stated that the risk of terrorist attacks and kidnappings against Westerners in Chad, Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, Mauritania and neighboring countries is high, and the French were advised not to travel in these countries except for essential reasons.
The Foreign Ministry also stated that the lives and security of French people in these countries are under clear and direct threat and asked them to leave their countries.