Flying a drone in Mali: permits, remote pilot licence, no-fly areas and fines (2026 decree)
Ministry of Security and Civil Protection; Ministry of the Armed Forces; Civil Aviation administration
Bringing a drone to Bamako to film the city or the Niger River is not a mere formality. Since decree no. 2026-0092/PT-RM of 25 February 2026, published in the Official Journal of 6 March 2026, almost every stage of a civil drone's life needs a permit: import, purchase, operation, resale and most filming. This page summarises the text.
Key points (checked on 18 October 2026)
- Importing a drone: prior permit from the minister for Security (article 5).
- Buying: purchase permit, which requires a remote pilot licence (articles 10 and 11).
- Owning: declaration and registration with the minister for Security (article 12).
- Flying: operating permit from the minister for the Armed Forces and flights in authorised areas only (articles 20 and 30).
- Flying over a town or filming a public place: banned without prior permission (articles 36 and 37).
- Fines up to 100,000 FCFA (individuals) or 500,000 FCFA depending on the offence, and the drone can be confiscated.
Which drones are covered
The decree applies to all civil drones, their accessories and components, meaning uncrewed aircraft used for professional, commercial, recreational or scientific purposes. Only state drones (military, security services) are excluded (article 2).
It sets three categories of operation (article 4):
| Category | Operations |
|---|---|
| Open | flights within direct line of sight, within weight, altitude and area limits, no flying over crowds or carrying dangerous goods |
| Specific | operations outside the open category, with a prior risk assessment and often a civil aviation permit |
| Certified | carrying people, high-risk dangerous goods, or risks comparable to crewed aviation |
The exact limits of each category are left to an order of the minister for Civil Aviation.
Importing, buying, registering
- Import and export: prior permit from the minister for Security. The application includes the approval, a photo of the drone and accessories, the invoice, the manual, technical specifications, intended use and a joint certificate of compliance with national standards (articles 5 to 8).
- Purchase: no one may buy a civil drone without a permit from the minister for Security, after consulting the minister for the Armed Forces. The permit requires an existing pilot licence from an approved training body or an equivalent approved document (articles 10 and 11).
- Registration: every owner must declare and register their drone with the minister for Security (article 12).
- Resale: transfers require prior permission (article 13).
- Type approval and registration marks: every drone made or imported in Mali needs type approval and a frequency assignment, then registration by the Civil Aviation administration before use (article 22).
Flying: licence and training
Anyone may operate a drone, but only with a permit from the minister for the Armed Forces (article 20). The pilot of a drone used professionally must hold a Civil Aviation licence, renewed every year (article 25). Every remote pilot must train with an approved body (articles 27 and 28).
A remote pilot certificate obtained abroad must first be recognised by the Civil Aviation administration to be valid in Mali (article 23). A drone not identified in Mali may not fly over or land in the country without a permit from the minister for Civil Aviation (article 31). A pilot may only fly one drone at a time (article 24).
Where and what you can film
| Rule | Article |
|---|---|
| Flights only in areas authorised in advance | 30 |
| Model aircraft (leisure): daytime only, drone always in sight | 32 |
| Commercial filming, or filming outside the visible spectrum, outside authorised areas: declaration and special permit from military and administrative authorities | 33 |
| No photographs without permission of government buildings, military and security installations or sensitive sites | 35 |
| No capturing or publishing photos or videos of a public place without prior permission | 36 |
| No flying over towns or populated areas without prior permission | 37 |
| Restricted, dangerous and prohibited areas: Civil Aviation permit | 38 |
Drone use remains subject to the rules on personal data, privacy and the environment (article 34). In practice, flying over Bamako, a whole city, falls under article 37; the area around Quartier du Fleuve, home to several government buildings, and Koulouba, seat of the presidency, also fall under article 35.
Penalties
- Breaching the rules on import, purchase, trade, use or operation: fine of up to 100,000 FCFA for an individual, up to 500,000 FCFA for a company, possible confiscation of the drone and a flying ban for a pilot without a valid licence (article 43).
- Unauthorised overflight, filming, privacy breaches, illicit transport, prohibited areas (articles 31 to 39): fine of up to 500,000 FCFA (article 46).
- Injury, death or damage caused by a drone: the Criminal Code applies; an attack carried out with a drone is treated as terrorism (articles 44 to 46).
- For a repeat offence, penalties are doubled (article 47).
Owners of drones already in use have one year from 25 February 2026 to comply (article 48). Detailed procedures (approval, licence, permit applications) are left to joint ministerial orders (article 49): check with the Civil Aviation administration before travelling with a drone.
Frequently asked questions
Can I fly a leisure drone in Bamako?
Not freely. Flying over towns or populated areas is banned without prior permission, flights must take place in an authorised area, and filming a public place also needs permission.
Can a tourist bring a drone to Mali?
Importing a drone requires a prior permit from the minister for Security, and a foreign remote pilot certificate must be recognised by Civil Aviation. Without these permits, the drone can be confiscated.
Do I need a licence to fly a drone in Mali?
Yes for professional use: a Civil Aviation licence renewed every year. Buying a drone also requires already holding a pilot licence.
What is the fine for an unauthorised flight?
Up to 500,000 FCFA for unauthorised overflight or filming, doubled for a repeat offence, and the drone can be confiscated.
Official source (checked on 18 October 2026)
- Official Journal of the Republic of Mali no. 04 of 6 March 2026, decree no. 2026-0092/PT-RM of 25 February 2026 on civil drones and their accessories (French), articles 2 to 48.
Get this procedure done in Bamako
Describe what you need: we review each request and reply by email within 72 hours with what can be done on the ground, the documents required (a power of attorney legalised at the consulate where needed) and the cost.
Assistance service being launched. No payment is requested at this stage.