The 1964 agreement authorising free movement of nationals and goods between both countries was revised on September 8, 2015 in Yaounde.

Nationals of the Republic of Cameroon and those of the Republic of Mali will henceforth need entry visas for movements between both countries.

Exempted from this requirement however are holders of official and diplomatic passports as well as government officials travelling on government missions, researchers, sports people as well as certain persons on official business for short-term between one month and 90 days.

These are the major features contained in an agreement between Cameroon and Mali on the movement of persons and goods that was signed on September 8, 2015 in Yaounde. While the Minister of External Relations, Pierre Moukoko Mbonjo, signed on behalf of Cameroon, Mali’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Integration and International Cooperation, Abdoulaye Diop, signed on behalf of his government as several cabinet ministers watched with approval. The signing ceremony ended the two-day meeting at the Ministry of External Relations to finalise the agreement which resulted from the revision of another agreement signed on May 6, 1964 in Bamako, Mali, instituting the free movement of persons and goods between both countries.

While underscoring that the fundamentals of the 1964 agreement regarding free movement of people had been preserved, both ministers explained that the modification was justified by the changing economic and security environments which required the screening of persons moving between both countries. “The context has changed. We have made efforts to adapt and to adjust. Cameroon today has to comply with its commitments within CEMAC,” explained Minister Abdoulaye Diop.

To facilitate the issuance of visas, Mali disclosed its intention to upgrade its Douala Consulate General into an Embassy in Yaounde while authorisation has been granted for Cameroon’s Consulate in Bamako, Mali to be upgraded to a full Consulate capable of issuing the visas which the agreement insists will be free of charge. Minister Moukoko Mbonjo disclosed to the press that Tuesday’s event ushered in the need for reinvigorating diplomatic mechanisms set up by both countries such as the Joint Commission which has never met and the agreement on reciprocal promotion and protection of investments.