Seoul: The foreign ministry announced Monday that it has imposed a travel ban on Mali due to heightened terrorist activities in the African nation. The ban, categorized as Level 4 on the country's four-tier travel warning system, takes effect at midnight and reflects a significant deterioration in public safety owing to the increased operations of the al-Qaeda-linked armed group JNIM.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Mali's capital city, Bamako, where the majority of South Korean nationals in the region reside, is now effectively under a blockade. The foreign ministry has advised those planning to visit Mali to cancel their trips and strongly urged current residents to evacuate.

The decision to enforce the highest level of travel warning underscores the severity of the situation in Mali. The foreign ministry's action is aimed at ensuring the safety of South Korean citizens amid the escalating threat posed by terrorist activities in the region.