The United States government has ordered its citizens in Mali, including non-essential employees and their families, to leave the West African country over growing security concerns.

In a travel advisory issued on Thursday, the White House said, “The Department of State has ordered non-emergency employees and their family members to leave Mali due to safety risks. The U.S. government cannot offer routine or emergency services to U.S. citizens outside of Bamako due to safety risks.”

Since September, militants affiliated with al-Qaeda have been attacking fuel trucks, especially those entering Mali from Senegal and Côte d’Ivoire, the main routes for most of the country’s imported supplies.

The government also directed Americans to avoid travelling to Mali at the moment, adding that they must have an evacuation plan that does not depend on the White House in place in case of emergency.

According to the State Department, terrorism, violent crimes, and ongoing armed conflict between government forces and non-state actors across several parts of Mali have made the country very dangerous for Americans.

Furthermore, the White House urged essential government workers who would remain in Mali not to travel outside the country’s capital city of Bamako, while urging them to avoid nightclubs, hotels, restaurants, and places of worship, prominent because of kidnappers and terrorists targeting foreigners.

“Armed conflict between the Malian government and armed groups is common throughout Mali. Many terrorist and separatist armed groups are active throughout the country. These groups may plan and carry out deadly attacks against Malian government and military facilities, including in and around Bamako,” the State Department added.