All posts tagged: Burkina Faso

Mali Attacks Spotlight the Growing Reach of Militants Across West Africa

Mali Attacks Spotlight the Growing Reach of Militants Across West Africa

Published by Sam Flores

By David Lewis, Mariano ⁠Zafra ⁠and Maxwell ⁠Akalaare Adombila May 1 (Reuters) – Simultaneous attacks ​in Mali by militants linked to al ‌Qaeda and separatist ‌Tuareg rebels on April ⁠25 ⁠showed how fighters from different groups with different ​goals were able to strike at the heart of the West African ​country’s military government. Despite a series of interventions ⁠since ⁠2013 by French, ⁠U.S., UN ​and Russian troops, these militant groups, alongside ​other factions ⁠aligned with Islamic State, have also made significant gains elsewhere in the region. The groups have expanded ⁠their presence in Niger and Burkina Faso and ⁠have linked up with Islamist militants in northern Nigeria. Their reach now stretches over 3,000 km (1,900 miles) from western Mali near Senegal, through Nigeria and into Chad. Click here for a story about ⁠the presence of militant groups across West Africa, including their proximity to major mining operations, presented as ​a graphic: (Editing by David Clarke ​and Jon McClure) Copyright 2026 Thomson Reuters. Photos You Should See – April 2026 Source link

Mali and Burkina Faso Announce Reciprocal Travel Ban on US

Mali and Burkina Faso Announce Reciprocal Travel Ban on US

Published by Sam Flores

BAMAKO, Dec 31 (Reuters) – Mali and Burkina ‌Faso ​have said they ‌are imposing a travel ban on U.S. citizens ​in response to an equivalent measure announced by the Trump administration ‍earlier this month. In separate ​statements issued by their foreign ministries late on Tuesday, ​the two ⁠West African countries said they were acting in the name of “reciprocity” after the White House announced on December 16 that U.S. President Donald Trump was adding them and five other countries ‌to a list of those subject to a full ​travel ban. The ‌White House said the ‍expanded ⁠ban, set to take effect on January 1, applied to “countries with demonstrated, persistent, and severe deficiencies in screening, vetting, and information-sharing to protect the Nation from national security and public safety threats”. Mali said on Tuesday that Washington’s decision to add it to the ​travel ban list had been taken without prior consultation and that the stated rationale was not justified by “actual developments on the ground”. Mali and Burkina Faso are not the first countries to take …