The United States has removed Mali from its list of countries required to post visa bonds for tourist and business visas, effective immediately. This development comes after a diplomatic row between the two nations began in early October, when the US introduced a new visa bond pilot program that included Mali. In response, Mali had implemented an identical policy, requiring US citizens to post up to $10,000 in bonds to obtain a visa.
The US visa bond program, which aims to ensure that visitors comply with the terms of their visas, had sparked a retaliatory measure from Mali. However, with the US revising its list of countries subject to the bond requirement, Mali is no longer included. It remains to be seen how Mali will respond to this development, as its own visa bond requirement for American citizens remains in place.
The visa bond program has been a point of contention between the US and several African nations in recent months. The US has used visa policies as a means of exerting pressure on countries that have not cooperated with its deportation efforts. For instance, visa proceedings were suspended in Burkina Faso after the country refused to accept deportees from the US. Similarly, visas for Zimbabwean citizens were temporarily suspended.
Currently, citizens from several African countries, including Mauritania, Sao Tome and Principe, Tanzania, The Gambia, Malawi, and Zambia, are still required to post bonds to obtain US visas. The implementation dates for these requirements vary, with some taking effect as early as August 20, 2025, and others on October 23, 2025.
The removal of Mali from the US visa bond program may be seen as a positive development in the diplomatic relations between the two countries. However, the fact that Mali’s reciprocal policy remains in place suggests that the issue is not yet fully resolved. As the situation continues to unfold, it is likely that the US and Mali will engage in further diplomatic efforts to resolve their differences and establish a more mutually beneficial visa policy.