By Almahady Cissé
BAMAKO, Feb 20 2004 (IPS)

It’s a common sight in the Malian capital: large groups of young people queuing in front of the French and American consulates with one objective in mind – to obtain an immigration visa.

“I have worked many small jobs (in Mali)…I’ve taken the…exam for the civil service many times, but without success. The time has come for me to try my luck somewhere else,” says 30-year-old Cheikh Keita, a graduate of the National Business School of Bamako, while standing before the French embassy.

Moussa Touré, also without a permanent job, adds “Here, we do not have any real prospects for the future and I think it is better for us to go to Europe where we can have a better life.”

Gaining entry into the U.S. is generally-agreed to be the most difficult procedure, as embassy officials require bank statements guaranteeing the availability of funds before they issue a visa. But, this has not proved an obstacle for people who are desperate to escape Mali’s unemployment and poverty – although it is essential to have contacts in the banking world.

Someone familiar with the visa procedure scoffs, “It’s child’s play. Even if a bank guarantee of 20 million CFA’s (almost 39,000 dollars) were asked, I could get it.” (The CFA – or Communauté financiere africaine – franc is used by a number of France’s former colonies in Africa.)

Those fortunate enough to get a tourist visa often disappear for good once in their country of choice, while others pin their hopes on getting a green card through the U.S. lottery system, which randomly selects 50,000 applicants every year. Because of the relative ease with which a student visa can be obtained, large numbers of Malians also opt to take this path.

A visit to the border police gives another insight into the number of people with their sights set on greener pastures. “We give out about 200 passports a day,” said an immigration police official who declined to give his name.

Officials put the number of Malians living abroad at about four million, which is – astoundingly – almost a third of the country’s population. However, some see this depletion in a positive light.

The President of the High Council of Malians abroad, Dramane Chérif Haidara, says expatriates send home critically-needed funds: “With their numerous financial resources, they’re investing in schools, health centres, literacy centres (and) development.”

A 1997 document from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs notes that Malians living in the diaspora repatriated just over 168 million dollars in 1995 – while almost 130 million dollars were sent home in the first few months of 1996.

This has led authorities to develop a support network for Malians living abroad – and even encourage immigration.

Although French President Jacques Chirac publicly deplored the tide of illegal immigrants pouring into Europe during a visit to Mali last October, his Malian counterpart – Amadou Toumani Touré – did not join in the condemnation.

“Our countrymen contribute decisively to the development of their country,” said Touré. “Every year, they send the equivalent of the total development aid that Mali receives from France.”

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