France and Mali have escalated their dispute by suspending visa issuance to each other’s citizens.
The French embassy in Bamako announced on Wednesday that it would no longer be issuing new visas, citing security concerns. The Malian foreign ministry responded by saying that it would reciprocate the move and suspend visas issued in Paris.
The decision comes after months of tensions between the two countries. In 2020, the Malian military seized power in a coup, ousting elected president Ibrahim Boubacar Keita. France, which had been supporting Mali’s government in its fight against jihadists, condemned the coup and suspended its military cooperation with the country.
The dispute escalated in 2021, when the Malian junta invited Russian paramilitaries to help fight the jihadists. France saw this as a betrayal and began to withdraw its troops from Mali.
The latest move to suspend visa issuance is a further sign of the deterioration in relations between France and Mali. It is unclear how long the suspension will last, but it is likely to further complicate efforts to resolve the crisis in Mali.
The suspension of visas is also likely to have a negative impact on the people of Mali and France. Malian students studying in France will no longer be able to renew their visas, and French citizens who need to travel to Mali will have to apply for visas from other countries.
The dispute between France and Mali is a complex one, and there is no easy solution. However, the suspension of visas is a significant escalation, and it is important that both sides work to find a way to resolve the crisis.