On Oct. 24, the West African nation of Mali began charging a $10,000 bond to American citizens applying for either tourist or business visas to enter the country.
While its history of war and political instability makes Mali a very rare destination for Western tourists, the change is a reciprocal move after the Trump administration added Mali to the list of countries whose citizens need to pay a bond of either $5,000 or $10,000 that they will get back once they exit the United States.
The State Department said that countries on the list were chosen based on “high overstay rates, screening and vetting deficiencies [and] concerns regarding acquisition of citizenship by investment without a residency requirement,” but exclusively African nations were targeted.
The bond program was launched in August for Malawi and Zambia, while Mali, Mauritania, São Tomé and Principe, and Tanzania were added in October.
“Do not travel to Mali for any reason”: State Department
“In accordance with the principle of reciprocity, Mali has decided to introduce an identical visa program, imposing the same conditions and requirements on U.S. nationals as those applied to Malian citizens,” Mali’s Foreign Affairs Ministry said in a statement.
On the day the bond for American citizens took effect, the U.S. State Department updated its travel advisory for the country, tweaking the statement regarding unrest and adding that U.S. government officials have been authorized to depart.
Related: Country answers Trump with reciprocal $10K visa fee for Americans
The country remains at the highest level four “do not travel” advisory reserved for war zones and authoritarian governments (Mali’s current government rose to power through an Islamist coup in 2021, and conditions for local residents have since deteriorated rapidly).
“The Department of State authorized non-emergency personnel and family members of U.S. government employees to leave Mali due to safety risks,” the travel advisory now reads. “The U.S. government cannot offer routine or emergency services to U.S. citizens outside of Bamako due to safety risks. Do not travel to Mali for any reason.”
“Conflict between these groups often results in civilian casualties”
The advisory goes on to state that violent crime is common throughout the country, as is “armed conflict between the Malian government and armed groups.”
“Many terrorist and separatist armed groups are active throughout the country,” the advisory reads further. “These groups may plan and carry out deadly attacks against Malian government and military facilities, including in and around Bamako. Conflict between these groups often results in civilian casualties.”
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Amid a deterioration in relations between the U.S. and the Malaian governments, any government workers have officially been instructed to leave the country. Regular citizens who may be in the country are being “advised to take the same precautions” and leave the country, as the situation can change for the worse quickly.
“Have a plan to leave in an emergency that does not depend on U.S. government help,” reads the section on tips for those currently in Mali.
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