The US State Department has removed Mali from the list of countries covered by its Visa Bond Pilot Programme, ending the requirement for Malians to post a deposit to obtain a US visa.
The decision to withdraw Mali from the Visa Bond Pilot Programme, made official on 23 October on the State Department’s website, ends a measure that had begun to strain relations between Bamako and Washington.
The programme, established for countries with a high overstay rate, required Malian applicants to post a deposit of between $5,000 and $15,000 refundable only upon returning to their country.
The initial announcement sparked a strong reaction from Malian authorities who immediately implemented a reciprocal measure for American travellers.
Mali’s removal from the list now renders this provision obsolete.
According to the latest update to the official document “Countries Subject to Visa Bonds,” Mali is no longer among the countries subject to the requirement, unlike other African countries such as Mauritania, Tanzania, Gambia, Malawi and Zambia.
By lifting this requirement, Washington is once again facilitating visa access for Malian nationals and easing a growing diplomatic tension, paving the way for a return to normal trade between the two countries.
MD/te/Sf/fss/jn/APA