Mali has introduced a visa bond of up to $10,000 for United States citizens seeking business or tourist visas, mirroring similar restrictions recently imposed by Washington on Malian travellers. The government in Bamako described the move as a reciprocal response to what it called a breach of long-standing bilateral agreements.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the Malian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the new rule was adopted “under the principle of reciprocity” after the U.S. government began requiring Malian nationals to post bonds ranging from $5,000 to $10,000 before obtaining temporary visas.
The American policy, which takes effect on October 23, is part of a pilot programme targeting countries with high visa overstay rates.
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Mali condemned the U.S. policy as a violation of a 2005 agreement that guarantees long-term visa access between the two countries. The Foreign Ministry said Mali had “always collaborated with the United States of America in the fight against irregular immigration, with respect for law and human dignity.”
The development signals growing diplomatic tension, as the United States increasingly uses visa restrictions to pressure other nations on immigration control and deportation cooperation. Mali’s move aligns it with several African countries — including Mauritania, São Tomé and Príncipe, Tanzania, Gambia, Malawi, and Zambia — that have also been affected by the U.S. visa bond policy.
The new rule further underscores the widening rift between Washington and Bamako over migration management and the future of their bilateral relationship.