Mali and Burkina Faso announce “equivalent measures” against US nationals in response to their inclusion on a new US travel ban list.
ABIDJAN: Mali and Burkina Faso have announced travel restrictions on American nationals in a reciprocal move.
The measures come after the US included both African countries on a new no-entry list.
Both nations’ foreign ministries issued statements saying they were imposing “equivalent measures” on US citizens.
This follows President Donald Trump’s expansion of a travel ban to nearly 40 countries this month.
The list is based solely on nationality and includes Syrian citizens and Palestinian Authority passport holders.
It also includes nationals of some of Africa’s poorest countries, including Niger, Sierra Leone and South Sudan.
The White House said it was banning foreigners who “intend to threaten” Americans.
Burkina Faso’s foreign ministry said it was applying “equivalent visa measures” on Americans.
Mali said it was applying “the same conditions and requirements on American nationals that the American authorities have imposed on Malian citizens”.
Mali voiced its “regret” that the United States had made “such an important decision without the slightest prior consultation”.
The restrictions are effective immediately.
The two sub-Saharan countries are both run by military juntas.
They are members of a confederation that also includes Niger.
Niger has not officially announced any counter-measures to the US travel ban.
However, the country’s news agency cited a diplomatic source last week saying such measures had been decided.
In his December 17 announcement, Trump also imposed partial travel restrictions on citizens of other African countries.
These include Nigeria, Ivory Coast and Senegal.
Ivory Coast and Senegal have qualified for the football World Cup to be played next year.
The tournament will be held in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
