Mali and Burkina Faso have announced new travel restrictions on United States nationals in a reciprocal move following Washington’s recent travel ban on several countries, including the two West African states.
Both countries disclosed the decision in separate statements issued by their foreign ministries and obtained on Wednesday.
The move comes after US President Donald Trump expanded a travel ban earlier this month to cover nearly 40 countries, based on nationality.
Burkina Faso’s foreign ministry said it was introducing “equivalent visa measures” for American citizens.
Mali, in its statement, said it was applying “with immediate effect, the same conditions and requirements on American nationals that the American authorities have imposed on Malian citizens entering the United States”.
Mali also expressed displeasure over the decision by Washington, saying it regretted that the United States took “such an important decision without the slightest prior consultation”.
The US travel ban affected several countries, including Syria, Palestinian Authority passport holders and nationals of some of Africa’s poorest nations such as Niger, Sierra Leone and South Sudan.
The White House said the restrictions were aimed at foreigners who “intend to threaten” Americans.
Mali and Burkina Faso, both governed by military administrations, are members of a regional confederation that also includes Niger.
While Niger has not officially announced counter-measures, its state news agency quoted a diplomatic source last week as saying similar steps had been approved.
Trump’s December 17 announcement also imposed partial travel restrictions on citizens of other African countries, including Nigeria, Ivory Coast and Senegal, as well as Canada and Mexico.
