Mali 🇲🇱 has indefinitely suspended the issuance of visas to French 🇫🇷 nationals at its embassy in Paris, its foreign ministry has disclosed.

In a statement, it noted that the move was reciprocal after it “learnt with surprise” that France 🇫🇷 had classified Mali 🇲🇱 to be in a “red zone” due to supposed "strong regional tensions".

France 🇫🇷 earlier this week suspended the issuance of visas and closed the visa centre at its embassy in Mali’s 🇲🇱 capital, Bamako.

The regional tensions reportedly come from Niger 🇳🇪 where the military overthrew the democratically elected government of President Mohamed Bazoum about two weeks ago.

The junta-led Mali 🇲🇱, Burkina Faso 🇧🇫 and Guinea 🇬🇳 governments have declared their support for the Niger 🇳🇪 coup and cautioned against any military intervention there.

Relations between Mali 🇲🇱 and France 🇫🇷 have been strained since Malian troops seized power in 2020 and 2021 military coups.