Paris suspended the issuance of visas for all Malian nationals at the beginning of August. Bamako did the same by reciprocity, immediately. Since then, this suspension has penalized all those who had to travel from one country to another in all sectors of activity. In education, which has been particularly affected, these suspensions are seen as an unfair punishment for citizens of both nationalities, prevented from completing projects that are crucial for their future.
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She graduated last June. Mariama Dembélé – her name has been changed so as not to prejudice her – is a young Malian who graduated from the French high school in Bamako. She was due to return to school at the start of the week in Paris, on Monday September 18, at the prestigious Sorbonne University, where she is enrolled in a management degree. But, like other students in her situation, she is still stuck in Bamako.
“ I find this very unfair, because I don’t understand why political reasons should affect our future, she confides. We have nothing to do with that. We have studied French since kindergarten, we had a French baccalaureate, we were accepted into French schools and universities. So, we don’t understand why the French government doesn’t want to help us. We don’t know how to do it. »
Several dozen Malian students are affected. No precise figures could be provided, neither by the French embassy in Bamako, nor by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Read alsoFrance and Mali suspend the issuance of visas for their nationals
In the opposite direction, the problem also arises. Not so much for the students as for the French teachers. Like Yves Désiré Ipolo, who was to come and teach mathematics in Mali. “ I had a contract with the Liberté high school in Bamako and at the same time, I had to lead a project with the school for young blind people. I couldn’t make it back to school, it really hurt me. A big disappointment, especially for young blind people, because it’s a theme that is close to my heart. »
The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs has indicated that Malian students already in France could continue their studies. But for those who, like Mariama Dembélé, planned to make their first return to France, no solution was found.
The problem also arises for Burkinabè and Nigerien students, France having also suspended its visa issuance in these two countries, whose transitional authorities are in open conflict with Paris. Finally, it arises in the same way for researchers and artists from these three countries – Mali, Niger, Burkina – where consular representations no longer issue any visas. Paris cites security reasons.
Read alsoIn France, a new university year without many students from Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso