Mali’s government has announced a new visa requirement demanding a $10,000 (₦15 million) refundable bond from American citizens seeking entry into the country, in a move described as a direct response to a similar policy introduced by the United States under former President Donald Trump.
The measure, made public on Sunday by Mali’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, applies to both business and tourist visa applicants from the United States. According to the ministry, the decision was taken after Washington imposed steep visa bonds on several African and Asian nations, claiming the move was meant to “protect America’s borders and safeguard national security.”
In a statement, the Malian government described the US policy as “unilateral and unjustified,” adding that Bamako had decided to implement “an identical visa arrangement” for US nationals in the spirit of reciprocity.
Reports by the BBC indicate that the new regulation signals a further deterioration in relations between Mali and the United States, despite previous efforts to rebuild diplomatic ties.
Earlier in July, senior American officials visited Bamako for talks on counterterrorism cooperation, economic partnerships, and investment in Mali’s gold and lithium sectors. However, those negotiations appear to have stalled following the latest diplomatic standoff.
Relations between the two countries have been strained since the 2021 military coup that brought Colonel Assimi Goïta to power. The junta has since distanced Mali from Western partners and strengthened alliances with Russia, expelling French troops and hosting Russian mercenaries rebranded as “Africa Corps.”
The visa row also comes shortly after Burkina Faso’s military regime refused to accept deportees from the US — a move that prompted Washington to suspend visa issuance in that country. Burkina Faso’s Foreign Minister, Karamoko Jean-Marie Traoré, accused the US of “blackmail,” claiming that his government’s refusal to take in third-country migrants had triggered the suspension.
The latest action by Mali adds another layer of tension to US relations in the Sahel region, where American influence has steadily waned amid the growing presence of Russian-backed forces.
