Mali, Burkina Faso ban US citizens in response to Trump travel curbs
The decisions were announced in separate statements by the foreign ministries of the two West African nations
Mali and Burkina Faso announced late Tuesday (30 December) that they will bar United States citizens from entering their countries, in retaliation for US President Donald Trump's decision to restrict the entry of Malian and Burkinabe nationals into the United States.
The decisions were announced in separate statements by the foreign ministries of the two West African nations, reflecting growing tensions between military-led governments in the region and Washington.
On 16 December, Trump extended existing US travel restrictions to 20 additional countries, including Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, all governed by juntas that have withdrawn from the Economic Community of West African States.
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Mali's Foreign Ministry said the move was based on the principle of reciprocity, adding that the government would immediately impose the same conditions and requirements on US citizens as those applied to Malian nationals seeking entry to the United States.
Burkina Faso's Foreign Minister Karamoko Jean-Marie Traoré issued a similar statement, saying the ban on American nationals was taken for the same reasons.
The White House has cited ongoing attacks by armed groups as one of the grounds for the travel restrictions. Mali and Burkina Faso have faced persistent violence from militant groups, a key factor behind the military coups that brought the current juntas to power after the overthrow of civilian governments amid worsening insecurity.
