Mali and Burkina Faso impose retaliatory travel ban on US nationals

Mali and Burkina Faso have imposed travel restrictions on American citizens in response to the US adding both countries to a no-entry list.

In separate statements reviewed by AFP on Wednesday, the foreign ministries of Mali and Burkina Faso said they were implementing “equivalent measures” against US nationals. The move follows President Donald Trump’s expansion of a travel ban this month to nearly 40 countries, targeting people based solely on nationality.

The US list included Syrian citizens, Palestinian Authority passport holders, and nationals from some of Africa’s poorest countries, such as Niger, Sierra Leone, and South Sudan. The White House said the restrictions were aimed at foreigners who “intend to threaten” Americans.

Burkina Faso’s foreign ministry said it was enforcing “equivalent visa measures” on Americans, while Mali stated that, “with immediate effect,” it would apply “the same conditions and requirements on American nationals that the American authorities have imposed on Malian citizens entering the United States.” Mali also expressed “regret” that the US had made the decision without prior consultation.

Both Mali and Burkina Faso are ruled by military juntas and are members of a regional confederation that includes Niger. Niger has not officially announced countermeasures, though its news agency reported last week that such actions had been decided.

In his December 17 announcement, Trump also extended partial travel restrictions to other African countries, including Nigeria, Ivory Coast, and Senegal, as well as Canada and Mexico. Some of these nations are set to participate in next year’s football World Cup in the United States.