Mali’s Foreign Affairs Ministry has announced that US citizens applying for visas will now have to post a bond of up to $10,000. The government said the decision mirrors a similar visa rule enacted by the United States that takes effect on October 23.
In a statement released on Sunday, the ministry explained that the policy was based on the principle of reciprocity. “Mali has decided to introduce an identical visa program, imposing the same conditions and requirements on US nationals as those applied to Malian citizens,” the ministry said.
US Policy Sparked by Overstay and Security Concerns
The move follows an earlier announcement by the US Embassy in Bamako, which said on Friday that Washington’s new visa bond aims to curb high overstay rates and strengthen border security.
The embassy’s statement added that the measure reinforces the US government’s “commitment to protecting America’s borders and safeguarding national security.”
Mali’s government, however, criticized the decision as unilateral and retaliated by introducing matching visa conditions.
Diplomatic Tensions Deepen Amid Mali’s Shift Toward Russia
Relations between Mali and the United States have been strained since the 2021 military coup that brought Gen. Assimi Goïta to power. The junta has since turned away from Western allies, expelling French troops and forging military ties with Russia.
Russian mercenaries from the Wagner Group, later replaced by Moscow’s Africa Corps, have provided security support to Mali’s military. Despite this, attacks by extremist groups linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State have continued to surge.
In July, US officials visited Bamako to discuss counterterrorism cooperation and potential partnerships in Mali’s gold and lithium sectors, signaling attempts to rebuild ties.
Regional and Political Ripples Across West Africa
Mali’s new visa bond policy also comes amid broader diplomatic friction across the Sahel. Last week, Burkina Faso’s military government refused to accept deportees from the United States, prompting Washington to suspend visa issuance to the country.
Mali’s foreign minister, Karamoko Jean-Marie Traoré, questioned whether the US decision amounted to “blackmail” after rejecting a proposal to host third-country migrants.
The Trump administration, which revived the visa bond policy, has sought to tighten immigration enforcement by partnering with African nations to deport migrants.
Mali’s Visa Bond Highlights Widening Rift with US
The introduction of a $10,000 visa bond for US nationals marks another low point in Mali-US relations. It underscores the growing diplomatic rift between Bamako and Washington as Mali deepens its alliance with Russia.
Observers warn that the tit-for-tat visa restrictions could further strain economic, security, and travel relations between the two countries.
