Mali has introduced a new visa policy requiring United States (US) citizens to post a bond of up to $10 000 for tourist and business visits, in direct retaliation to similar restrictions imposed by the Trump administration on Malian nationals.

The Malian foreign ministry said the measure was taken “under the principle of equality” on Friday, 10 October, after Washington decided to demand refundable bonds of between $5 000 and $15 000 from applicants in several African nations, including Mali.

The US claims its programme is designed to deter visa overstays and safeguard national security, but Mali insists the move violates a 2005 bi-lateral agreement guaranteeing long-term visa access.

Relations between the two countries have been tense since the West African country’s 2021 coup, which brought President Assimi Goita to power and shifted the nation’s allegiances towards Russia.

Analysts warn the new bond could deter American business travel to Mali’s resource-rich gold and lithium sectors. The decision also reflects a wider backlash across Africa, where governments such as Chad and Burkina Faso have taken reciprocal action against what they view as unfair US immigration policies.

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