Two West African nations have announced new travel restrictions affecting U.S. citizens following their inclusion in an expanded U.S. travel ban unveiled earlier this month by former President Donald Trump.
The updated policy introduces full or partial travel restrictions on nationals from 39 countries and is scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2026. According to the White House, the measures involve stricter visa requirements or entry prohibitions and are intended to address national security concerns.
In response, Mali confirmed that it will no longer allow U.S. citizens to enter the country. Mali’s foreign ministry stated that the decision was taken under the “principle of reciprocity,” meaning American travelers will now face the same entry conditions imposed on Malian citizens under U.S. policy.
Burkina Faso announced a similar move, citing the same reasoning. Officials said the restrictions are a direct response to the U.S. decision and are meant to mirror the treatment of their own nationals.
The two countries follow Niger, which recently implemented a permanent suspension of visa issuance for U.S. citizens and imposed an open-ended ban on their entry, according to regional reports.
Chad had previously taken comparable action after being included in an earlier version of the U.S. travel ban, temporarily halting visa issuance for American travelers.
These developments reflect rising diplomatic tensions linked to the expansion of U.S. travel restrictions, as several affected countries have chosen to respond with reciprocal measures.