Mali’s Prime Minister has met with the United States Ambassador, Rachna Korhonen, in Bamako, as part of ongoing diplomatic engagements between both countries.
For several years, Mali has been listed at the highest alert level in U.S. travel advisories, with recommendations against travel due to security concerns, including attacks, kidnappings, and instability in parts of the country.
In 2025, the advisory was updated, with U.S. authorities urging citizens “to avoid travel and, for some categories, to leave when possible, citing repeated attacks by armed groups in several regions.”
Bilateral relations were further tested in October 2025 following changes to U.S. visa regulations.
The U.S. government introduced a “visa bond,” programme requiring certain non-immigrant visa applicants from countries with high overstay rates to pay a security deposit of up to $10,000.
Mali responded by announcing a reciprocal deposit requirement for American applicants seeking Malian visas.
These developments occurred against a backdrop of broader sanctions and restrictions imposed by some Western partners since Mali’s political transitions in 2020. During this period, Malian authorities have also expanded cooperation with other international actors across the security and economic sectors.
Despite the challenges, both countries have continued to maintain channels of communication.
Throughout 2025, Ambassador Korhonen reiterated “the United States’ commitment to working with the Malian people, particularly in development, governance and support for vulnerable groups. Malian and American officials also held discussions on economic and security-related issues in Bamako and abroad.”
According to a statement from the Malian Prime Minister’s office, “the meeting on December 8 included a message from the U.S. administration expressing interest in cooperation opportunities, including partnerships between Malian and American business stakeholders.”
The statement did not reference the visa and travel advisory issues but placed the discussion within the context of strengthening economic ties.
The meeting also reflects continued collaboration between both countries in areas such as countering armed groups in the Sahel, facilitating regional movement of goods and people, and addressing humanitarian needs in affected communities. U.S. assistance programmes, both humanitarian and technical, have remained active, though adjusted to political and security developments.
The latest engagement therefore comes at a time when relations between Mali and the United States continue to alternate between policy-related restrictions and efforts to sustain cooperation in key development and economic areas.
APA/Oyenike Oyeniyi