Senegal has introduced a nighttime ban on motorcycles in the Bakel region, located in the country’s east near the border with Mali.
This move follows recent cross-border attacks in Mali where motorcycles were used by armed groups to carry out deadly assaults.
The decision was made following attacks on July 1 in several towns in Mali, including Diboli — a town just a few hundred meters from Kidira, a Senegalese border town.
These attacks led to the death of at least one civilian and were carried out by Jama’at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM), a group aligned with Al Qaeda.
JNIM is known to be active in Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso.
Senegalese authorities issued a decree stating that motorcycles will not be allowed on roads in Bakel between midnight and dawn.
The restriction is part of broader security measures to prevent the spread of violence from neighboring Mali, where armed groups have operated for over ten years.
The Bakel region covers about 230 kilometers (140 miles) along the Mali border.
Its proximity to high-risk zones makes it vulnerable to infiltration by armed fighters using motorcycles, which are often used for fast and discreet movement.
Local officials in the Bakel region declined to give further details on the implementation of the ban.
However, the step signals Senegal’s concern over the possible spillover of violence from Mali, where instability and armed conflict continue to pose threats to border communities.
The region remains on alert as authorities monitor cross-border activity and maintain efforts to secure the area against any future incidents.