![From left, the heads of state of the three countries: Mali's Assimi Goita, Niger's General Abdourahamane Tchiani and Burkina Faso's Captain Ibrahim Traore [File: Mahamadou Hamidou/Reuters]](https://businessday.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Untitled-design-2025-09-23T162405.889-1.png)
Mali and Burkina Faso have announced reciprocal travel restrictions on United States nationals following Washington’s decision to impose a permanent visa ban on citizens of both countries.
The measures were confirmed in separate statements issued on Tuesday, with the two West African states citing the principle of reciprocity after the United States expanded its travel restrictions to include Mali and Burkina Faso.
Mali’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said it regretted that the decision was taken without prior consultation, describing the move as inconsistent with longstanding diplomatic engagement between the countries.
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The ministry noted that the security justification cited by the US “contradicts the real developments on the ground” and suggested that the motivation for the action lies elsewhere.
“In application of the principle of reciprocity, the government of the Republic of Mali will apply, with immediate effect, to American nationals the same conditions and requirements as those imposed on Malian citizens,” the statement reads.
Burkina Faso’s authorities echoed similar concerns, stressing that their response was a direct consequence of the US action.
Karamoko Jean-Marie Traoré, Burkina Faso’s minister of foreign affairs, said his country would apply equivalent visa measures to US nationals.
“The government of Burkina Faso has taken note of the decision announced on December 16, 2025, by the authorities of the United States of America regarding the strengthening of entry restrictions on their territory,” Traoré said.
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He described the move by the US as inconsistent with the principles of sovereign equality and mutual respect.
The United States’ decision to impose a permanent visa ban forms part of a broader immigration and national security policy announced by the White House under United States president Donald Trump.
According to the White House, the expanded measures are designed to protect US national security, citing concerns over weak identity-management systems, limited information-sharing with US authorities, and high visa overstay rates in the affected countries.
Under the policy, which takes effect from January 1, 2026, Mali and Burkina Faso are listed among more than 20 countries whose nationals will face full or partial restrictions on entry into the United States
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Despite the escalating tensions, authorities in Bamako and Ouagadougou insist they remain open to international cooperation, stressing that future engagement must be based on mutual respect, reciprocity and non-interference.
Mali and Burkina Faso are currently governed by military-led administrations that came to power following coups, developments that have significantly strained their relations with Western partners, including the United States and France.
Since their respective takeovers, both countries have faced diplomatic isolation, reduced security cooperation and mounting criticism over democratic governance and foreign policy direction.
