Mali has announced that U.S. nationals visiting the country will need to post a bond of up to $10,000 (£7,500) for business and tourist visas. This requirement is a response to a similar policy instituted by the previous U.S. administration. According to the U.S. embassy in Mali, this measure aims to reinforce the commitment to national security and border protection.
The foreign ministry of Mali specified that this bond requirement was imposed unilaterally and is part of establishing an identical visa program for U.S. citizens. This policy change comes amid ongoing efforts to enhance diplomatic relations between the two nations. In July, U.S. officials visited Mali to discuss cooperation in counterterrorism and economic partnerships, which included interest in Mali’s gold and lithium resources.
Diplomatic relations have been strained following a coup in 2021 that brought General Assimi Goïta to power. Under his leadership, Mali has shifted its foreign alliances towards Russia in an effort to combat increasing jihadist insurgency. This shift included the expulsion of French troops and the recruitment of Russian mercenaries from the Wagner group, who have since been replaced by another entity known as Africa Corps.
Further complicating matters, Burkina Faso’s military government recently refused to accept deportees from the U.S. after Washington suspended its visa issuance in the country. Foreign affairs minister Karamoko Jean-Marie Traoré has raised questions about whether the U.S. embassy’s decisions constitute “blackmail,” especially after Mali declined a U.S. proposal to accept migrants from third countries. This situation illustrates the broader implications of U.S. immigration policies, as the Trump administration had considered African nations as potential destinations for deportees as part of its immigration enforcement strategy.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx2729glzx8o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss