Mali, the eighth-largest country in Africa, has a predominantly young population, with nearly half its citizens under the age of 15 and more than 40% living below the poverty line. Since a military junta seized power in 2020, Mali, home to storied destinations such as the legendary city of Timbuktu , has seen its relations with the United States deteriorate sharply. Diplomatic and military ties have been cut, U.S. sanctions imposed, and Washington has grown increasingly critical of the junta's authoritarian rule and its deepening relations with Russia.

On October 10, 2025, the U.S. Department of State launched a Visa Bond Pilot Program , requiring citizens of Mali to post a bond before receiving business or tourist visas. Less than forty-eight hours later, in a retaliatory move, Mali

See Full Page