In reaction to the Trump administration’s visa limitations, Mali and Burkina Faso have prohibited U.S. nationals from visiting their territory, bringing the total number of African nations taking reciprocal action to four.
The foreign ministries of the two West African countries reportedly released separate statements announcing the decisions.
When Chad stopped issuing visas to US citizens on June 6, 2025, the uproar started. Mahamat Deby, the president of Chad, emphasized on social media that the action was taken “in accordance with the principles of reciprocity” and that it was about “national pride and dignity.”
Niger did the same on December 25, 2025, prohibiting US citizens from entering the country and permanently stopping the issuance of visas. “[Niger] has completely and indefinitely suspended the issuance of all visas to citizens of the United States of America and has prohibited the entry of US nationals into the territory of Niger,” according to an official government statement.
Karamoko Traore, the foreign minister of Burkina Faso, announced the country’s decision to implement a reciprocal ban on Tuesday.
“The Government of Burkina Faso is applying equivalent visa measures on United States nationals in response to the recent measures taken by the United States restricting entry for Burkinabe citizens,” Traore said.
“In accordance with the principle of reciprocity and with immediate effect, the Government of the Republic of Mali will apply the same conditions and requirements to American nationals as those imposed by the American authorities on Malian citizens entering the United States of America,” the Mali government declared in an official statement confirming the measure.
Proclamation 10998, which US President Donald Trump issued on June 4, 2025, and which went into effect on June 9, 2025, is the source of the series of reciprocal measures. Both immigrants and non-immigrants from twelve nations, including Chad, were prohibited from entering the country by the decree.
The travel ban was extended to 19 countries by December 16, 2025. With effect from January 1, 2026, eight more nations were added to the complete restricted list: Burkina Faso, Laos, Mali, Niger, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, and Syria.
Twenty additional nations, including Nigeria, were also subject to a partial suspension on immigration and travel to the United States as a result of the order. Angola, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Senegal, Tanzania, Togo, Venezuela, Zambia, and Zimbabwe are a few of these.
The US proclamation permitted exceptions for a number of groups, including diplomats, students, athletes, lawful permanent residents, and people already in the country with valid visas, notwithstanding the broad scope of the prohibitions.
The actions, which are a component of Trump’s attempts to tighten US immigration laws, have provoked growing diplomatic opposition from the impacted nations, especially those in West and Central Africa.
Former French colonies and landlocked countries Mali, Burkina Faso, Chad, and Niger have united to oppose what they perceive to be unfair and unreasonable travel restrictions imposed by the United States.
