TRUMP'S TRAVEL BAN BACKLASH: MALI AND BURKINA FASO HIT BACK

 US President Donald Trump.

By Mpho Dube, Editor-in-Chief, The Azanian

In a tit-for-tat move, Mali and Burkina Faso have imposed full visa bans on United States citizens, retaliating against US President Donald Trump's ban on US visas for their citizens.

The two West African countries, governed by military juntas, announced the ban citing the principle of reciprocity.

This move follows Trump's new visa restrictions, which now apply to 39 countries in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America, imposed on "national security" grounds.

The affected countries include Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Chad, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Laos, Libya, Mali, Myanmar, Niger, Republic of Congo, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen.

The US ban has sparked concerns about the impact on African countries, with many facing steep tariffs and reduced access to US markets. The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which provided duty-free access to US markets, expired in September, and no steps have been taken to revive it.

The visa ban has also raised tensions between the US and African nations, with some accusing Trump of targeting African countries. Of the 39 countries affected, 26 are African nations. The US has also prioritized access to critical rare earth minerals in Africa, sparking concerns about exploitation.

As the situation continues to unfold, African nations are pushing back against Trump's policies. Niger has also banned US citizens, while Chad stopped issuing visas to US citizens in June, except for officials.