BAMAKO, Mali (AP) — Mali and Burkina Faso said late Tuesday they would ban U.S. citizens from entering their countries in retaliation for U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to ban citizens of Mali and Burkina Faso from entering the United States.
The claims, made in separate statements by the foreign ministers of the two West African countries, marked the latest turn in frosty relations between the military governments of West Africa and the United States.
December 16 Trump extended previously imposed travel restrictions to 20 more countriesincluding Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, which are ruled by juntas and have formed the breakaway Economic Community of West African States from the regional bloc.
“In accordance with the principle of reciprocity, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation informs the national and international community that, with immediate effect, the Government of the Republic of Mali will apply to US citizens the same conditions and requirements as to Malian citizens,” the Mali Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
Another statement, signed by Burkina Faso's Foreign Minister Karamoko Jean-Marie Traoré, cited similar reasons for the ban on American citizens entering Burkina Faso.
The White House has cited persistent attacks by armed groups as one of the reasons for the travel ban. Mali and Burkina Faso are struggling to contain armed groups that have rapidly spread in both countries. Juntas have vowed to fight armed groups after toppling civilian governments amid insecurity that has gripped much of the region.
Baba Ahmed, Associated Press
