Mali, Burkina Faso Retaliate U.S. Travel Bans

Mali and Burkina Faso have announced reciprocal travel restrictions on United States nationals in response to America’s recent decision that placed both West African countries on a no-entry list.

In separate statements issued by their foreign ministries and seen on Wednesday, the two countries said they were adopting “equivalent measures” against U.S. citizens following President Donald Trump’s expansion of a U.S. travel ban to nearly 40 countries this month.

The expanded restrictions affect citizens of several countries, including Syria and Palestinian Authority passport holders, as well as nationals of some of Africa’s poorest states such as Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Sierra Leone and South Sudan.

The White House said the measures were aimed at restricting foreigners who “intend to threaten” Americans.

Burkina Faso’s foreign ministry said it was applying “equivalent visa measures” to U.S. nationals, while Mali announced that, “with immediate effect,” it would impose “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 decision by the United States was taken “without the slightest prior consultation.”

Mali and Burkina Faso, both governed by military juntas, are members of a regional confederation that also includes Niger.

While Niger has not officially announced countermeasures, the country’s state news agency reported last week, citing a diplomatic source, that similar steps had been decided.

In his December 17 announcement, Trump also imposed partial travel restrictions on citizens of other African countries, including Nigeria, as well as Ivory Coast and Senegal.