Two West African nations issue travel bans on American citizens

Two West African international locations have concurrently imposed bans on US residents in a diplomatic row, amid heightened tensions with each the USA and Europe, and as Russia seeks to extend its financial and geopolitical affect within the area.

Dozens of Wagner troops have been massacred in Mali after an ambush by Tuareg rebels on July 27, 2024. (East2West)

Mali and Burkina Faso took this step in response to the Trump administration’s Dec. 16 growth of journey restrictions to greater than 20 international locations. The coverage primarily affected the African continent, with Chad, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Libya, Niger, the Republic of Congo, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan and Sudan additionally topic to journey restrictions.

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The Trump administration cited the continued armed assaults in each international locations as a part of the explanation for its resolution:

“In keeping with the Division of State, terrorist organizations proceed to plan and perform terrorist actions all through Burkina Faso. In keeping with the Division of Homeland Safety’s (DHS) Fiscal 12 months 2024 Entry/Exit Overstay Report, Burkina Faso had a B-1/B-2 visa overstay price of 9.16 p.c and a visa overstay price for college kids (F), vocational coaching (M), and alternate guests (J) of twenty-two.95 p.c. Moreover, Burkina Faso has traditionally refused to take again its detachable nationals.”

Relating to its resolution to checklist Mali, it acknowledged:

“In keeping with the Ministry of International Affairs, armed conflicts between the Malian authorities and armed teams happen all through the nation. Terrorist organizations function freely in sure areas of Mali.”

Burkina Faso and Mali are each at present dominated by navy juntas that got here to energy amid rising violence and instability as each international locations got here beneath assault by Islamist terrorist teams.

On March 1, 2023, a mural will be seen in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. Armed forces in Burkina Faso have killed 223 civilians, together with infants and lots of kids, in assaults on two villages accused of collaborating with militants, Human Rights Watch mentioned in a report revealed Thursday, April 24, 2024. (AP photograph, file)

Each international locations have additionally seen an increase in anti-French sentiment, together with deepening relations with Russia, which has promised to assist battle again Islamist rebels battling central governments for territorial management.

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“In accordance with the precept of reciprocity, the Ministry of International Affairs and Worldwide Cooperation informs the nationwide and worldwide neighborhood that the Authorities of the Republic of Mali will apply with fast impact to US residents the identical circumstances and necessities as these imposed on Malian residents,” the Malian Ministry of International Affairs mentioned.

Malian troopers test a automobile within the garrison city of Kati, Mali, on Tuesday, August 18, 2020. Malian troopers took up arms and started detaining senior navy officers in an obvious mutiny, elevating fears of a potential coup after a number of months of anti-government demonstrations calling for the president’s resignation. (AP Photograph/Mohamed Salaha)

The federal government of Burkina Faso cited the same cause for issuing the ban on American vacationers.

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Each international locations, in addition to neighbors Niger and Nigeria, have seen skyrocketing violence in recent times as chronically underfunded governments battle to keep up management over rural, sparsely populated desert areas.

The Related Press contributed to this report.