Mali Imposes $10,000 Visa Bond on US Nationals in Reciprocal Move

Mali has announced that United States nationals visiting the West African country will now be required to post a bond of up to $10,000 (£7,500) when applying for business or tourist visas.

The move is in direct response to a similar visa bond programme introduced by the Trump administration targeting citizens of several countries, including Mali.

The US Embassy in Mali confirmed on Friday that Washington had imposed the fee to reinforce its “commitment to protecting America’s borders and safeguarding US national security.”

In a swift reaction, Mali’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Sunday that the visa bond had been imposed “unilaterally” by the US, prompting Bamako to adopt an identical policy for American visitors.

“The government of Mali has decided to establish an identical visa programme for United States citizens,” the ministry said in a statement.

The policy change comes at a time when both nations have been attempting to mend strained relations. In July 2025, senior US officials visited Bamako to discuss counterterrorism cooperation, economic partnerships, and possible access to Mali’s gold and lithium reserves resources seen as crucial for global clean energy supply chains.

However, relations between Mali and the US deteriorated following the 2021 military coup, which brought Gen. Assimi Goïta to power. The transitional government shifted its alliances away from Western partners, forging closer military and economic ties with Russia.

Mali later expelled French troops and welcomed Russian Wagner Group mercenaries, who have since been replaced by the Africa Corps, a unit now under Moscow’s defence ministry.

The latest visa dispute mirrors growing diplomatic friction between Washington and several West African states led by military governments.

Just last week, Burkina Faso’s foreign minister Karamoko Jean-Marie Traoré accused the US Embassy in Ouagadougou of “blackmail” after the US suspended visa issuance in the country. The suspension reportedly followed Burkina Faso’s refusal to accept deported migrants from the United States.

Observers say the developments underscore the growing rift between Washington and the Alliance of Sahel States (ASS) comprising Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso which have increasingly turned toward Russia and other non-Western partners for security and economic support.

Analysts describe Mali’s new visa bond as largely symbolic, reflecting Bamako’s determination to assert sovereignty and challenge perceived Western double standards. Yet the decision could complicate travel and business relations at a time when Mali is seeking foreign investment to revive its struggling economy.

As one Malian political analyst noted, “This is more about reciprocity and political messaging than practical policy a signal that Mali is willing to stand its ground in global diplomacy.”