By Charles Pemu 
BAMAKO—Mali has announced it will require U.S. nationals applying for business and tourist visas to pay mandatory visa bonds of up to $10,000, in a direct reciprocal response to a similar policy implemented by the U.S. government.
The decision by Mali follows the inclusion of the West African nation in the U.S. government’s visa bond pilot program, which was initiated under the Trump administration to curb visa overstays. The U.S. Embassy in Bamako confirmed the Malian measure will take effect from October 23.
In a statement released on Sunday, Mali’s foreign ministry condemned the U.S. policy as a “unilateral decision” that violated an existing bilateral agreement regarding long-stay, multiple-entry visas.
“In accordance with the principle of reciprocity, Mali has decided to introduce an identical visa programme imposing the same conditions and requirements on U.S. nationals,” the ministry stated.
The U.S. policy requires a bond, which is refundable upon the traveler’s legal departure, for select visitors from countries with high visa overstay rates.
The U.S. State Department data indicates that fewer than 3,000 non-immigrant visas are issued to Malian nationals annually.
The U.S. visa bond initiative is part of President Donald Trump’s broader immigration enforcement efforts. In related moves, the U.S. also announced bond requirements of up to $15,000 for visa applicants from Zambia and Malawi, with Zambia subsequently criticizing the policy as an “unnecessary financial strain.”