Mali’s embassy in Paris has stopped issuing visas to French citizens.
The Malian government said the move was ‘reciprocal’ and comes as tensions between the African country and its former colonial power continue to rise.
Earlier this week the French embassy in the Malian capital, Bamako, stopped issuing visas and closed its visa centre.
Relations between the two countries have been strained since a military junta seized power there. French troops stationed in the country left, while mercenaries from the Russian-linked Wagner Group have seen their influence grow.
Mali is at the core of broader regional tensions in West Africa. Following a coup in Niger a few weeks ago, members of the regional bloc, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), said it would consider military action to restore democracy. Mali and Burkina Faso, which are both governed by the military, said they would consider such an attack on Niger as an attack on their two countries too.