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Mali, Burkina Faso bar US citizens after Trump curbs
The Burkina Faso national flag with a man standing in front of it is seen during a memorial ceremony in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, on 23 January 2016.
Mali and Burkina Faso announced late Tuesday that they will deny entry to United States citizens, citing reciprocity after Washington imposed new travel restrictions on Malian and Burkinabe nationals.
The decisions were outlined in separate statements from the two countries’ foreign ministries, underscoring rising strains between the military-led governments of West Africa and the United States.
On 16 December, US President Donald Trump expanded travel curbs to 20 additional countries, including Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger—nations currently ruled by juntas that have exited the Economic Community of West African States.
Mali’s Foreign Ministry said the measure follows the principle of reciprocity and that US nationals will now face the same conditions applied to Malians seeking entry to the United States.
Burkina Faso’s Foreign Minister Karamoko Jean-Marie Traoré issued a similar statement, saying the ban on Americans was adopted for the same reasons.
US officials have cited ongoing attacks by armed groups as a factor behind the restrictions. Both Mali and Burkina Faso have struggled with persistent militant violence, which contributed to military takeovers after civilian governments were ousted amid worsening insecurity.