Mali, Burkina Faso Impose Travel Ban on U.S. Citizens After Inclusion in Trump Travel Restrictions

Mali and Burkina Faso have announced new travel restrictions on United States citizens, citing reciprocity after both countries were placed under full entry restrictions by the U.S. government.

The decision follows the expansion of a U.S. travel ban under President Donald Trump, which added Mali and Burkina Faso to a list of countries whose nationals are barred from entering the United States.

In separate statements, the two West African governments said they would apply equivalent measures to American nationals. Burkina Faso’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Karamoko Jean-Marie Traoré, said the move was based on the “principle of reciprocity,” according to the BBC. Mali’s foreign ministry said its response was guided by “mutual respect and sovereign equality.”

Mali also criticized the U.S. decision-making process, saying the travel restrictions were imposed “without any prior consultation.”

The announcement comes days after neighbouring Niger introduced a similar ban on U.S. citizens. Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger are all currently governed by military juntas that came to power through coups in recent years.

The three countries have since formed a regional alliance and strengthened ties with Russia, amid strained relations with other West African states and Western governments.

Earlier this month, SaharaReporters reported that the United States suspended the processing of immigration applications from 19 countries across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. The pause has left thousands of applicants facing uncertainty.

The Trump administration said the measure was driven by national security concerns following a recent attack on National Guard members in Washington. An Afghan national was arrested in connection with the incident.

Under the policy, applicants from the affected countries are subject to enhanced vetting procedures, according to AFP. U.S. authorities have not said how long the suspension will remain in effect or whether more countries could be added.

Several of the affected nations were already under partial restrictions. Those facing the strictest limits include Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.