Burkina Faso and Mali stop US citizens from dia kontri in response to Donald Trump travel ban

Burkina Faso under Captain Ibrahim Traore and Mali under military President Assimi Goita don tok say dem go stop US citizens from entering dia kontris.

Dis na part of dia do-me-I-do-you, in direct response to di decision of US to stop dia nationals from travelling to di United States.

Di two military-led West African states announce di move separately late on Tuesday, say di move go take effect immediately.

Burkina Faso and Mali bin take dis decision based on di wider US travel ban wey dey affect several kontris for Africa and di Middle East.

Na US President Donald Trump bin make di order to ban some kontris make dem no enta di US.

For mid-December 2025, President Trump bin expand US travel ban.

Trump ban nationals of five additional countries and pipo wey dey travel on Palestinian Authority-issued documents from entering di US.

Di White House tok say di restrictions na "to protect di security of di United States" and e go come into force on 1 January 2026.

E also impose full-entry restrictions on pipo from Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan and Syria plus Palestinian Authority passport holders.

Dis na di third time Trump don impose travel ban.

Meanwhile, Burkina faso and Mali don do dia own back, as dem also announce dia own travel ban on US citizens.

Burkina Faso and Mali announce ban on US citizens

Mali foreign ministry say dem dey act on di principle of reciprocity, adding say American citizens go now face di same entry conditions imposed on Malians by di US.

"Di ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of di Republic of Mali don take note of di decision of December 16, 2025, by di US authorities to strengthen entry restrictions to di United States for Malian nationals."

"In accordance wit di principle of reciprocity, di Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation inform di national and international community say di govment of Mali go apply, wit immediate effect, di same conditions and requirements to American nationals as dem impose on Malian citizens."

Burkina Faso govment say dem dey committed to mutual respect and sovereign equality, and say dem still dey open to cooperation wit international partners wia dia interest align.

For September 2025, Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger announce dia decision to withdraw from di International Criminal Court wit immediate effect.

Dem allege say di judicial body na tool for "neo-colonialism" and dem dey practice "selective justice".

Again for anoda move, Mali and Burkina Faso wit dia neighboring Niger, recently withdraw from di West African regional bloc Ecowas and form di Alliance of Sahel States.

Di group don distance diasef from western allies and strengthen ties wit Russia.

Recently, Burkina Faso military ruler, Capt Traore, bin become di new Chairman of di Alliance of Sahel States (AES).

Traore take ova di rotating presidency from Mali military leader Gen Goita on Tuesday, 23 December, 2025.

Na under di leadership of Traore, dis announcement of travel ban on US citizen bin come.

Earlier dis year, Chad also take retaliatory action afta di US include dem for restrictions and suspension of visas for US citizens.

Chad President Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno say di move na about national dignity, say Chad fit lack wealth or influence, but no go accept unequal treatment.

Meanwhile, oda African kontries wey dey affected by di expanded US ban, including Nigeria and Sierra Leone, say dem plan to respond through diplomatic channels, even thoughj di US measures dey take effect on 1 January 2026.

List of countries wit restrictions

Countries wit full restrictions: