Mali and Burkina Faso have announced travel restrictions on American citizens in response to the US adding both countries to its no-entry list.
In separate statements reviewed by AFP on Wednesday, the foreign ministries of both nations said they were enforcing “equivalent measures” following President Donald Trump’s recent expansion of a travel ban to nearly 40 countries, applied solely on the basis of nationality.
The US ban affects Syrian citizens, Palestinian Authority passport holders, and nationals from some of Africa’s poorest countries, including Niger, Sierra Leone, and South Sudan. The White House said the restrictions target foreigners who “intend to threaten” Americans.
Burkina Faso’s ministry said it was implementing “equivalent visa measures” for Americans, while Mali stated that, “with immediate effect,” US citizens would face the same conditions and requirements that the US imposes on Malian nationals. Mali also expressed regret that the US had made the decision without prior consultation.
Both countries are run by military juntas and are members of a regional confederation that also includes Niger. Niger has not formally announced any countermeasures, though local reports suggest such actions have been planned.
Trump’s December 17 announcement also imposed partial travel restrictions on 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.
