Mali hits back with Ksh.1.3M visa fee for US travellers

Mali has introduced a $10,000 (Ksh.1.3 million) visa fee on U.S. nationals visiting the West African country for business and tourism purposes in a reciprocal move after Donald Trump’s administration did the same to its citizens.

On Friday, the U.S. embassy in Mali announced that the fee was introduced to reinforce Washington’s “commitment to protecting America’s borders and safeguarding U.S. national security.”

Mali’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the bond had been imposed unilaterally on Sunday and added that the decision was to “establish an identical visa programme” for U.S. nationals.

In July, the US officials went to Mali to talk about counterterrorism cooperation and economic partnerships, like potential access to Mali’s gold and lithium reserves.

The visa rule change comes despite initiatives aimed at improving bilateral relations.

The relations weakened after a coup in Mali in 2021 that led to Gen Assimi Goïta getting to power.

To curb a rising jihadist insurgency, he shifted the West African state's allegiance toward Russia.

Just like Burkina Faso, he exiled French troops and brought in Russia’s mercenaries from the Wagner group, which is under Moscow’s defence ministry. They have since been replaced by Africa Corps.

Last week, Burkina Faso rejected the request to take in deportees from the U.S., as Washington suspended issuing visas in the West African nation.

This is after the Trump administration turned to African countries as a destination to deport migrants as part of its crackdown on immigration.