DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — Mali’s government announced it will now require U.S. citizens applying for visas to post a bond of up to $10,000, mirroring a new U.S. policy targeting Malian applicants that took effect on October 23.
In a statement released Sunday, Mali’s Foreign Affairs Ministry said the decision follows the “principle of reciprocity,” matching the same conditions and requirements that the United States has applied to Malian nationals.
The move came shortly after the U.S. Embassy in Bamako announced Washington’s new visa bond policy, citing concerns about high rates of visa overstays, insufficient screening and vetting procedures, and broader foreign policy considerations.
Mali’s statement underscores its intention to respond directly to the U.S. decision:
“In accordance with the principle of reciprocity, Mali has decided to introduce an identical visa program, imposing the same conditions and requirements on U.S. nationals as those applied to Malian citizens,” the ministry said.
Since a 2021 military coup, Mali’s ruling junta has significantly altered the country’s foreign alliances. Once a key counterterrorism partner of France, Mali expelled French troops and deepened security ties with Russia. Despite these shifts, extremist attacks linked to al-Qaida affiliates have continued to escalate across the country in recent months.
