Mali and Burkina Faso have announced a ban on the entry of United States citizens, describing the move as a response to similar restrictions imposed by the administration of President Donald Trump. The two West African countries were recently placed under full-entry restrictions as part of an expanded US travel ban, prompting both governments to take what they described as reciprocal action against US nationals.
In separate statements, Burkina Faso’s foreign affairs minister, Karamoko Jean-Marie Traoré, said the decision was based on the “principle of reciprocity,” while Mali’s foreign ministry called for “mutual respect and sovereign equality,” adding that it regretted that “such an important decision was made without any prior consultation.”
The move follows a similar announcement by neighbouring Niger and comes amid strained relations between the military-led governments of the three countries and Western powers, after the White House said full-entry restrictions would take effect on 1 January to “protect the security” of the United States.