BAMAKO, 31 December 2025 – Mali and Burkina Faso will no longer allow U.S. citizens to enter their countries, responding to a travel ban announced by the Trump administration earlier this month.
The foreign ministries of both West African nations issued statements on Tuesday saying their move is based on reciprocity. The White House on 16 December added Mali, Burkina Faso, and five other countries to a list subject to a full U.S. travel ban, citing “persistent and severe deficiencies in screening, vetting, and information-sharing” that could threaten national security.
Mali criticised the U.S. decision, saying it was made without consultation and the reasons given did not reflect the situation on the ground.
This is not the first instance of African countries reacting to U.S. restrictions. Niger announced on 25 December that it would stop issuing visas to Americans, while Chad suspended visa issuance in June after being targeted by an earlier travel ban.
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