Mali has imposed a $10,000 visa bond on U.S. citizens entering the country for business or tourism, in a strong reciprocal response to Washington’s new travel policy targeting the West African nation.
The U.S. embassy in Mali announced on Friday that under a new pilot visa bond programme taking effect from October 23, American authorities will require bonds of up to $10,000 from Malian travelers applying for tourist or business visas.
The U.S. government said the bonds would be refunded upon compliance with visa terms and proper departure.
In a swift reaction, Mali’s foreign ministry condemned the U.S. action as a “unilateral decision”, claiming it violates a longstanding bilateral agreement between both nations on long-term, multiple-entry visas.
“The government of Mali deplores this unilateral decision by the United States,” the ministry said in a statement on Sunday.
“In accordance with the principle of reciprocity, Mali has decided to implement an identical visa programme, imposing the same requirements on U.S. citizens as those applied to Malian nationals.”
The decision means American visitors to Mali will now have to post a visa bond of up to $10,000 before being granted entry, matching the same conditions the U.S. government has set for Malian travelers.
According to U.S. State Department data from 2015 to 2024, fewer than 3,000 non-immigrant visas were issued annually to Malian nationals, while figures for Americans traveling to Mali were not immediately available.
The visa bond initiative, first introduced under the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, was part of Washington’s efforts to curb visa overstays and tighten border enforcement.
The policy mandates travelers from certain countries to post refundable financial bonds as a guarantee they will leave the U.S. before their visas expire.
In August, similar bond measures were extended to Zambia and Malawi, with applicants required to post up to $15,000.
Zambia’s government had sharply criticized the move, describing it as an “unnecessary financial burden” on its citizens.
They also warn the decision could discourage business and tourism travel between the two countries.
The new visa policy underscores a broader diplomatic rift, as Mali continues to align more closely with Russia and China following strained relations with Western powers in recent years.
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