Mali has imposed a visa fee of $10000 for Americans few hours after the US imposed $5,000 visa fees for Malians.
The President rejected deportees from America and Donald Trump sanctioned them with $5,000 visa fee, they immediately reacted by increasing their own to $10000.
From now on American will pay $10,000 visa fees to visit Mali.
The President says they will not bow to intimidation again.
Africa will not be visa free for them, while Africans pay huge sums to get their own visa.
The announcement was made on Sunday October 12 by Mali’s Foreign Ministry, marks a sharp response to the Trump administration’s recent decision to demand hefty visa bonds from nationals of several African countries including Mali.
Under the new policy, US citizens applying for business or tourist visas to Mali will required to post a refundable bond, the same range of $5,000 to 10,000 now demanded to Malian visitors to United States.
“Mali has always collaborated with the United States of America in the fight against irregular immigration, with respect for law and human dignity”, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
“However, in the light of the recent unilateral measures, Mali has decided to establish an identical visa programme for American citizens”.
The United States Embassy in Bamako confirmed the new fees, saying they were part of efforts to “protect America’s borders and safeguard national security”.
Washington’s pilot scheme, which began in late October, targets countries with what it calls “high visa overstay rate” It requires travellers from Mali and six other African nations – Mauritania, Sao Tome and Principe, Tanzania, Gambia, Malawi, and Zambia, to pay large bonds before entering the U.S.
The bonds are paid in advance through a U.S Treasury Department portal and are refunded If visitors leave the country before their authorised stay expires. Those who overstay or seek asylum forfeit the amount.
Consular officers decided the bond amount for each travellers, on top of standard visa fees of $185.
The travellers are also restricted to entering and exiting through just three designated U S airports.
Critics have warned the policy could discourage legitimate travel and harm the U.S tourism sector, participation ahead of major global event such as the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
-9News Nigeria.
