The Public Affairs Office is comprised of the Press and Information Office and the Cultural Affairs Office. Public Affairs officers explain and advocate American policy and serve as Embassy’s point of contact for media and press inquiries. This office also advises the U.S. Mission to Mali on issues of public diplomacy. The Public Affairs section works closely with other sections of the American Embassy and Malian organizations to strengthen the bilateral relationship.

The head of the Office of Public Affairs is the Public Affairs Officer (PAO).

The Cultural Affairs Office of the Embassy manages a broad range of activities promoting professional, academic, and cultural relations between the people of Mali and the United States, and represents the American Embassy vis-a-vis the Government of Mali in official business related to education and culture. The office is led by the Cultural Affairs Officer, sometimes called the Cultural Attaché.

Like the cultural missions of other countries, the Cultural Affairs Office also sponsors activities in traditional areas such as cultural preservation, performing arts, visual arts, and literature.  A number of Cultural Affairs programs send Malian citizens to the United States for educational or professional development purposes. For example, the International Visitor Leadership Program invites current and future foreign leaders to the United States to engage in a short but intensive round of professional meetings and consultations with their American counterparts.

The Public Affairs Officer is the official spokesperson of the Embassy in Bamako and directly oversees the Press and Information office.  The Press Office works closely with Malian print and electronic media to provide authoritative information on U.S. government policies and track media opinion on issues of interest to the United States. The Press and Information office arranges interviews with Embassy officials for domestic and foreign media, conducts press briefings by Embassy officers or visiting U.S. government officials, and prepares and/or disseminates speeches, policy statements, press releases, and special publications about issues or events of interest to the people of Mali. These materials are generally available in both English and French.

The Press and Information Office also manages the Embassy’s social media platforms and online outreach efforts.

Contact:

Inquiries: Press and Information Specialist Idrissa Fane fanei@state.gov
Please call only for press inquiries: +223 2070 2424

The American Center at the U.S. Embassy in Bamako is a specialized unit of the Public Affairs Section. The American Center is staffed by bilingual specialists who have access to state-of-the-art information technologies to serve the information needs of its clients.

Our goal is to provide accurate and authoritative information on American policy, history, government, society and values and to assist the Malian public in understanding the United States and the American people. The American Center exemplifies the U.S. commitment to free access to information, a core characteristic of a democracy.

American Center
Public Affairs Section (PAS)
Embassy of the United State of America
Bamako, Mali
Phone +223 2070 2432, +223 2070 2426
Email:  PASBamako@state.gov

For Visa questions, please see our Visa page

The Political and Economics Section works to strengthen political relations between the United States and Mali.  We monitor and analyze developments related to Mali’s domestic politics and human rights, foreign policy issues, and the U.S.-Mali security relationship.  We also advocate for U.S. positions on a broad range of issues with Malian officials, parliamentarians, politicians, academic institutions and think tanks, civil society leaders, and foreign diplomats and work to advance U.S. interests and increase bilateral cooperation across a broad range of issues.

The Economics Officer in the Political-Economics Section at the U.S. Embassy works to expand bilateral trade and investment and promote regional economic integration. We support efforts to help Mali modernize and innovate its economy, work jointly on science and health exchanges, and promote women’s participation in the economy. The section engages in commercial advocacy, policy formulation, and outreach to the Government of Mali and the private sector.

The Embassy’s consular section is responsible for two broad categories of activities: visa services to Malians and third-country nationals and services to American citizens. Visa services consist of processing applications for nonimmigrant and immigrant visas. Nonimmigrant visa applicants include visitors to the United States for business and pleasure, students who plan to study in the United States and others whose purpose in visiting the United States is temporary in nature and who intend to return to Mali upon completion of the purpose of their visit.

Immigrant visa applicants include those who plan to become permanent residents of the United States. Both nonimmigrant and immigrant visa applicants must meet the requirements of United States immigration law and regulations in order to be processed and issued visas.

Services Available to United States Citizens

American Citizen Services include issuance of United States passports, preparation of reports of birth and death abroad of United States citizens and notarial services. Other services to American citizens include assistance to those seeking medical care, those who are destitute and visits to those detained or incarcerated by local authorities.

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) leads international development and humanitarian efforts to save lives, reduce poverty, strengthen democratic governance, and help people progress beyond assistance. USAID supports Mali in driving its development journey toward self-reliance by helping to develop a stable, secure, and tolerant Mali with a vibrant economy.  For more than 50 years, USAID has contributed to major development gains that improve the lives of the Malian people. For example, USAID has founded farmer cooperatives and improved irrigation methods to help Mali meet increasing food demands, established a community school system and interactive radio instruction to increase access to education, and expanded health services resulting in dramatic reductions in child mortality. We also address humanitarian needs of Malians both in Mali and in refugee camps in neighboring countries.

USAID aims to help Malians secure a democratic, resilient and prosperous future by: Reinforcing the stabilization of conflict-affected areas (transition); Improving public trust in government (governance); Improving the adaptive capacity of vulnerable communities and households (resilience) and; Advancing socio-economic well-being (prosperity). USAID’s transformational partnerships and practices, as well as our legacy institutions, sustain the impact of USAID’s programs after implementation ends. For details visit: https://www.usaid.gov/mali

The Defense Attaché Office (DAO) maintains military-to-military relationships with the Malian Armed Forces and provides advice on military matters to the Ambassador. DAO represents the U.S. Department of Defense and the U.S. military services in Mali. DAO personnel also assist Mali by conducting military exchange programs that enable Malian military personnel officers to study at U.S. military schools.

The Office of Security Cooperation (OSC) promotes U.S. foreign policy by enhancing the long-term bilateral defense relationship between Mali and the United States. We accomplish this by linking U.S. Africa Command theater strategy with the Department of State’s Integrated Country Strategy, in close cooperation with the Malian Armed Forces leadership.

The OSC is responsible for planning and managing the traditional security assistance programs: International Military Education and Training (IMET) and Foreign Military Financing (FMF). Additionally, we compete for multiple Department of State-owned funding sources such as the Global Peace Operations Initiative, Foreign Military Financing, and Africa Military Education Program.

The OSC also manages several Department of Defense programs, including the DoD HIV/AIDS Prevention Program, Mil to Mil Engagement Program, Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Preparedness Programs, and the Counter Terrorism Fellowship Program.

The Regional Security Office (RSO) is responsible for all embassy security programs and conducts liaison activities with Malian law enforcement and security agencies.  U.S. Embassy Mali’s RSO administers a unique U.S.-funded Malian Gendarmerie training partnership that develops tactical and operational capacities for the Malian Gendarmerie, including skills in Crisis Response, Sharp Shooting, Tactical Medicine, and Special Protection.  The U.S. Embassy Bamako’s RSO office also manages the Special Program for Embassy Augmentation and Response (SPEAR) team which is composed of Malian National Guard members who mission is to respond to critical incidents involving U.S. Mission facilities and personnel in Mali and to fill critical gaps for emergency response in Bamako.

The Management Section is responsible for staffing, equipping, and supporting the U.S. Embassy.  The Management Section includes the General Service Office for Procurement and Housing, Facilities Management Section, Financial Management Office, and the Human Resources Office.