The United States has removed Mali from its pilot visa-bond program, reversing a prior decision that had sparked a diplomatic row between the two governments, according to U.S. State Department updates and reports by Business Insider Africa.
The visa-bond scheme required eligible visa applicants to post a refundable bond—sometimes as high as USD 15,000—to guarantee their return to their home country. Mali was initially added to the list on October 8, 2025, but has now been omitted from the updated roster.
The reversal appears linked to Mali’s reciprocal visa-bond rule, which had sought to impose similar requirements on U.S. travelers, triggering diplomatic backlash from Washington.
State Department communications confirmed that the program still applies to nationals from six other African nations—including Mauritania, Zambia, Malawi, The Gambia, São Tomé and Príncipe, and Tanzania—with varying implementation dates between August and October 2025.
The decision is widely seen as a diplomatic olive branch, signaling Washington’s willingness to recalibrate its policies in response to African pushback and to preserve broader bilateral cooperation. Mali hailed the move as a positive turn and has called for renewed dialogue on migration and foreign policy.
