Mali strikes back, says $10,000 visa bond now required for American visitors

Mali has introduced a new visa policy requiring U.S. visitors to post a bond of up to $10,000 (£7,500) for both business and tourist entries — a direct response to a similar measure recently enforced by the Trump administration on Malian citizens.

According to the U.S. embassy in Bamako, the fee aims to strengthen Washington’s “commitment to protecting America’s borders and safeguarding U.S. national security.”

Mali’s foreign ministry, however, described the U.S. move as unilateral and said it was left with no choice but to “establish an identical visa programme” for American nationals.

The decision marks a setback for diplomatic efforts to mend ties between the two countries. In July, U.S. officials had travelled to Mali to discuss counterterrorism initiatives and explore potential economic partnerships, including access to Mali’s gold and lithium sectors.

Relations between Washington and Bamako soured following Mali’s 2021 coup, which brought Gen. Assimi Goïta to power. Goïta steered the nation closer to Russia, expelling French forces and bringing in mercenaries from the Wagner Group — now replaced by Africa Corps under Moscow’s defence ministry.

Tensions between Washington and West African nations have continued to escalate. Just last week, Burkina Faso’s military-led government declined to accept deportees from the U.S., prompting Washington to halt visa services in the country.

Malian Foreign Affairs Minister Karamoko Jean-Marie Traoré questioned whether the U.S. embassy’s decision amounted to “blackmail” after rejecting a U.S. proposal to accept migrants from third countries.

The Trump administration has increasingly looked to African nations as destinations for deported migrants as part of its broader immigration clampdown.