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Mali and Burkina Faso They said late Tuesday they would bar U.S. citizens from entering the country in retaliation for President Donald Trump’s decision to ban citizens of Mali and Burkina Faso from entering the United States.
Separate statements from West Africa’s two foreign ministers marked the latest turn in icy relations between West Africa’s military junta and the United States.
On December 16, Trump expanded previous travel restrictions to an additional 20 countries, including Mali, Burkina Faso and NigerIt is run by a military junta and separated from the regional bloc Economic Community of West African States.
“In accordance with the principle of reciprocity, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation notifies the domestic and international communities that with immediate effect, government The Republic of Mali will apply the same conditions and requirements to U.S. citizens as Malian citizens, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Mali said in a statement.
A separate statement signed by Burkina Faso’s Foreign Minister Karamoko Jean-Marie Traoré cited similar reasons for banning U.S. citizens from entering Burkina Faso.
The White House cited continued attacks by armed groups as one of the reasons for the travel ban. Mali and Burkina Faso have struggled to contain armed groups that have spread rapidly in both countries. The junta deposed the civilian government over insecurity in much of the region and vowed to fight armed groups.