Keep in mind that Mali had since cut ties with its former colonial “owner,” France, by cancelling all existing colonial agreements that France had with the country (including the pact for the continuation of colonization) and later asking French soldiers who were permanently stationed in that country to simply get out – an order that has since been heeded by France.
But in the wake of the deteriorating situation in Niger, especially when Mali & Burkina Faso vowed to defend Niger if ECOWAS carried out their threat of military intervention on Niger, France suddenly placed Mali in RED and warned its citizens not to travel there.
Then, shortly after ECOWAS’ ultimatum expired and the bloc decided to deploy its stand-by force to “restore constitutional order in Niger,” France suddenly stopped issuing visas to Malians wishing to travel to Paris, through their embassy in Mali. In retaliation, Mali also stopped issuing visas to French citizens wishing to travel to Mali through the Malian embassy in Paris. This is an escalation and it further shows how badly relations between the two countries have deteriorated. It also proves that France/west anticipate some form of military actions in both Mali and Burkina Faso, especially given that the two countries have vowed to fight alongside Niger, in an event the Uranium-rich country is attacked by a foreign army.