Two West African nations have imposed travel bans on Americans in response to a similar move by the Trump administration. Mali and Burkina Faso were recently placed under full entry restrictions under President Trump’s expanded travel ban. “The Trump administration cited the persistence of armed attacks in both nations as part of the rationale for its decision,” Fox News stated. In separate statements, the governments of the two countries said they would impose the same restrictions on U.S. nationals. “Statement dated 30 December 2025 whereby the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation announces the decision of the Government of the Republic of Mali to apply, on a reciprocal basis and with immediate effect, the same conditions and requirements to American nationals as those imposed by the US authorities on Malian citizens entering the United States,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of Mali stated. Statement dated 30 December 2025 whereby the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation announces the decision of the Government of the Republic of Mali to apply, on a reciprocal basis and with immediate effect, the same conditions and requirements to American… pic.twitter.com/PZcfDK4sxE — Ministère des Affaires étrangères du Mali (@MaliMaeci) December 31, 2025 BBC shared further: Burkina Faso’s foreign affairs minister Karamoko Jean-Marie Traoré said his government was acting on the “principle of reciprocity”, while Mali’s foreign ministry called for “mutual respect and sovereign equality”. The latter said it regretted the US’s move, adding that “such an important decision was made without any prior consultation”. Mali and Burkina Faso’s decision comes days after Niger’s state news agency reported that Niger had imposed a similar travel ban on US citizens, though no official statement has been issued by its foreign ministry to confirm this. The three countries are ruled by military juntas which seized power in coups. They have formed their own regional bloc, and have pivoted towards Russia after relations with other West African states and Western powers became strained. Earlier this month, the White House said that full-entry restrictions would be imposed on people from the three countries, as well as South Sudan, Syria and Palestinian Authority passport holders. The decision would come into effect on 1 January, and was intended to “protect the security” of the US, it said. “According to the Department of State, terrorist organizations continue to plan and conduct terrorist activities throughout Burkina Faso. According to the Fiscal Year 2024, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Entry/Exit Overstay Report (‘Overstay Report’), Burkina Faso had a B-1/B-2 visa overstay rate of 9.16 percent and a student (F), vocational (M), and exchange visitor (J) visa overstay rate of 22.95 percent. Additionally, Burkina Faso has historically refused to accept back its removable nationals,” the Trump administration stated in regards to Burkina Faso, according to Fox News. “According to the Department of State, armed conflict between the Malian government and armed groups is common throughout the country. Terrorist organizations operate freely in certain areas of Mali,” it said about Mali. Mali and Burkina Faso announce reciprocal travel ban on US citizens https://t.co/J4NJv7UadS pic.twitter.com/9VZxsC5Tno — New York Post (@nypost) December 31, 2025 Fox News noted: Both nations, as well as neighboring Niger and Nigeria, have seen skyrocketing violence in recent years, as chronically underfunded governments struggle to retain control of rural, sparsely-populated desert regions.