Mali and Burkina Faso have announced a ban on travel for US citizens in response to US President Donald Trump’s decision to include these countries in the list of nations subject to travel restrictions. The move is seen as a reciprocal measure, with both countries citing the principle of “mutual response” in their separate statements.
The decision comes after the White House announced on December 16 that President Trump would add Mali, Burkina Faso, and five other countries to the list of nations subject to full travel restrictions, effective January 1. According to US officials, the restrictions are imposed on countries where there are significant and persistent flaws in screening, testing, and information-sharing systems, which pose a threat to national security and public safety.
The Malian government stated that it was not consulted before the decision and that the US position does not align with the facts on the ground. Burkina Faso also deemed the US move unilateral.
This is not the first time that countries in the region have taken measures in response to US travel restrictions. Earlier, Niger banned issuing visas to US citizens, while Chad suspended visa issuance for Americans in June after being added to the US list.
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