The Malian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation has instructed the country’s consular office in France to suspend the issuance of visas to French nationals until further notice.
This move reciprocating what it claims is the decision of the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs to classify Mali as a red zone on the grounds of supposed “strong regional tensions”. It also claimed that, as a result, the French embassy in Bamako suspended the issuance of visa and closed the visa Centre.
Tensions have been growing between the Malian and French governments since the installation of the military junta headed by Col. Assimi Goïta, leading to retaliatory embargoes on different fronts.
Recently, the Malian government degraded the French language to a working language while it made its local languages as the official languagee for all transactions in the country. It has also expelled French forces that were stationed there as part of the bulwark against Jihadist insurgents.
The government has also changed the laws guiding the share of the state in mining and exploration of the country’s natural resources, a report states. According to the new code, the share of the state in mining companies increases from 10% to 35%. Many believe this move is a major step by the military junta to rectify a flawed arrangement that has deprived the country of needed revenue for many years.
