Mali and Burkina Faso hit back with visa bans on US citizens
In separate statements, the two junta-led West African states said they were mirroring Washington’s decision, which imposes full entry restrictions on their citizens from 1 January.
Mali and Burkina Faso say they will refuse entry to US nationals after the Trump administration placed both countries under a sweeping new US travel ban.
In separate statements, the two junta-led West African states said they were mirroring Washington’s decision, which imposes full entry restrictions on their citizens from 1 January.
Burkina Faso’s foreign minister, Karamoko Jean-Marie Traoré, said Ouagadougou was acting on a “principle of reciprocity”. Mali’s foreign ministry accused the United States of failing to consult before taking “such an important decision”, and called for “mutual respect and sovereign equality” between the two countries.
Their move follows reports from Niger’s state news agency that Niamey has also decided to bar US citizens, although its foreign ministry has yet to issue a formal confirmation.
All three countries have been under military rule since coups in recent years. They have formed a joint alliance, withdrawn from some West African regional structures, and moved closer to Russia as relations with traditional Western partners have frayed.
Earlier this month, the White House announced that citizens of Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, South Sudan, Syria and holders of Palestinian Authority passports would face full entry restrictions to the US, citing national security and concerns over identity management and information-sharing.
Laos and Sierra Leone, previously subject to partial limits, were moved to the full-ban list, while 15 other states – including Nigeria, Tanzania and Zimbabwe – are now covered by narrower, category-specific restrictions.
US officials say the measures will remain until governments demonstrate “credible improvements” in border controls and cooperation with US immigration authorities.
The ban does not apply to US lawful permanent residents, most existing visa holders, diplomats or athletes travelling for major sporting events, and case-by-case waivers may be granted where travel is deemed to be in the US national interest.
