Mali and Burkina Faso Restrict Entry for U.S. Citizens in Retaliation

 

Mali and Burkina Faso have announced travel restrictions on American citizens in response to the United States including them on a no-entry list. Both countries’ foreign ministries said they would impose “equivalent measures” for US nationals, following President Donald Trump’s expansion of a travel ban this month affecting nearly 40 countries based on nationality.

The US list covers Syrian and Palestinian Authority passport holders, as well as citizens from several of Africa’s poorest nations, including Niger, Sierra Leone, and South Sudan. The White House stated the ban targets foreigners who “intend to threaten” Americans.

Burkina Faso confirmed it would enforce “equivalent visa measures,” while Mali said it would apply “the same conditions and requirements on American nationals that the American authorities have imposed on Malian citizens entering the United States,” effective immediately. Mali also expressed regret over the US decision, criticizing the lack of prior consultation.

Both Mali and Burkina Faso are run by military juntas and are part of a regional confederation that includes Niger, which has not yet officially announced similar measures but is reported to have decided on counteractions.

Trump’s December 17 announcement also imposed partial travel restrictions on other African countries, including Nigeria, Ivory Coast, and Senegal, ahead of the upcoming football World Cup in the United States, as well as Canada and Mexico.