Mali: AES passports refused by the French consulate in Bamako, a diplomatic crisis in the making?
Holders of the new Sahel States Alliance (AES) passport are encountering systematic rejection by the French consulate in Bamako when attempting to obtain visas. This issue, believed to be rooted in an administrative blockage, is creating major difficulties for Malian citizens wishing to travel to France, particularly in urgent cases.
Numerous testimonies confirm that the French consulate is outright refusing to accept AES passports as valid travel documents. One notable case involved a traveler who had lost his ECOWAS passport, which contained a valid French visa. After obtaining an AES passport on an urgent basis, his visa application was denied despite the legitimacy of his request.
A diplomatic source close to the matter stated that the refusal is not due to a lack of official recognition of the AES passports by France, but rather because of an administrative delay on the Malian side. The Malian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has reportedly not yet sent specimen AES passports to foreign diplomatic missions, making their authentication impossible. However, in late January 2025, General Daoud Aly Mohammedine, Mali’s Minister of Security, assured that all necessary steps had been taken with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), and that diplomatic missions were informed about the introduction of the new document.
This ongoing administrative issue, with no clear resolution or timeline, is particularly penalizing for Malian citizens needing to travel urgently to France. It also raises concerns about diplomatic relations between France and AES countries (Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger). The refusal by the French consulate to accept AES passports, even temporarily, could worsen the already tense relations between these nations and France.
Despite the technical explanations provided, this blockage is perceived by many as a lack of respect for the AES countries and their citizens. If the situation is not swiftly addressed, it could escalate into a diplomatic crisis, further straining the already fragile relationship between France and the Sahel States. Both Malian and French authorities must act promptly to prevent an escalation and ensure the rights of Malian travelers.
