Mali has introduced visa bond requirements for United States citizens, mirroring measures recently imposed by Washington on Malian travelers. The decision, announced by the Foreign Ministry in Bamako, is a reciprocal response to US rules set to take effect on October 23 that will require Malian business and tourist visa applicants to post bonds of $5,000 to $10,000.
The US policy, which Mali claims violates a 2005 bilateral accord guaranteeing long-term visa access, is part of a year-long pilot targeting countries with high visa overstay rates. Mali was added to the program in October, alongside Mauritania, Sao Tome and Principe, and Tanzania. Other nations in the program include Gambia, Malawi, and Zambia. Under the scheme, travelers must pay bonds in advance via the US Treasury Department and enter through three designated airports. The funds are refunded if they leave before their visa expires, but withheld for overstays or asylum claims.
Mali’s Foreign Ministry stressed that the country has long worked with Washington on curbing irregular migration “with respect for law and human dignity,” but would honor reciprocity. The ministry’s statement emphasized that the new visa bond requirements for US citizens are a direct response to the US policy. The move is seen as a significant development in the ongoing discussions between the two countries on migration and visa policies.
The US move has been criticized for potentially deterring legitimate visitors and hurting tourism, particularly ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Critics argue that the bonds could disproportionately affect certain groups of travelers, including those from low-income backgrounds. The program’s rollout has accompanied broader efforts by the US administration to pressure African governments into accepting deportees, sometimes in exchange for aid or political concessions.
In recent months, several African countries have faced pressure from the US to accept deportees. Burkina Faso lost US visa services after refusing to take third-country deportees, while South Sudan had visas suspended before agreeing to accept eight non-African deportees. Eswatini, Ghana, Rwanda, and Uganda have made similar arrangements, highlighting the complex and often contentious nature of migration policies between the US and African countries. The introduction of visa bond requirements for US citizens in Mali is likely to have significant implications for bilateral relations and migration policies between the two countries.