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Mali, Burkina Faso Join African Countries Barring US Citizens Over Trump Visa Ban

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Mali and Burkina Faso have barred U.S. citizens from entering their territories in response to visa restrictions imposed by the Trump administration, bringing the number of African countries taking reciprocal action to four.

It was reports that the decisions were announced in separate statements issued by the foreign ministries of the two West African nations.

The backlash began on June 6, 2025, when Chad suspended visa issuance to American citizens. Chadian President, Mahamat Deby, via social media, stated that the move was implemented “in accordance with the principles of reciprocity,” stressing that the measure was about “national pride and dignity.”

On December 25, 2025, Niger followed suit, indefinitely halting visa issuance and barring US nationals from entry. An official government statement said, “[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.”

On Tuesday, Burkina Faso’s Foreign Minister, Karamoko Traore, confirmed the country’s decision to impose a reciprocal ban.

“In response to the recent measures taken by the United States restricting entry for Burkinabe citizens, the Government of Burkina Faso is applying equivalent visa measures on United States nationals,” Traore stated.

Similarly, the Government of Mali confirmed the measure in an official statement, declaring, “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.”

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The series of reciprocal actions stem from Proclamation 10998, signed by US President, Donald Trump, on June 4, 2025, and effective from June 9, 2025. The order suspended entry for immigrants and non-immigrants from 12 countries, including Chad.

By December 16, 2025, the travel ban had expanded to include 19 nations. Eight additional countries, Burkina Faso, Laos, Mali, Niger, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, and Syria, were added to the full restriction list, effective January 1, 2026.

The proclamation also placed 20 other countries, including Nigeria, under a partial ban limiting immigration and travel to the United States. These include Angola, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Senegal, Tanzania, Togo, Venezuela, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, among others.

Despite the sweeping nature of the bans, the US proclamation allowed exemptions for certain categories, including diplomats, students, athletes, lawful permanent residents, and individuals already present in the US with valid visas.

The measures, part of Trump’s efforts to tighten US immigration standards, have sparked increasing diplomatic pushback from affected countries, particularly in West and Central Africa.

Mali, Burkina Faso, Chad, and Niger, all former French colonies and landlocked nations, now form a unified bloc in opposing what they see as discriminatory and unjustified travel restrictions by the United States.

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Veteran Yoruba broadcaster and comic actor, Timothy Agboola, widely known as Ereke Ni Shop, has died

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Veteran Yoruba broadcaster and comic actor, Timothy Agboola, widely known as Ereke Ni Shop, has died after battling an illness.

It was reports that the entertainer passed away on Wednesday at a private hospital in Lagos after reportedly being sick for a long time.

Agboola built a strong reputation in Yoruba broadcasting and comedy.

Over the years, he became popular for programmes that mixed humour with storytelling while also promoting Yoruba culture and traditions.

Many listeners saw him as someone who loved his heritage and proudly represented Ijesa culture through his work.

Following the announcement of his death, many colleagues, friends and fans began sharing messages of condolence on social media.

One of his associates, Idris Shogbola, was among those who first shared the sad news online while mourning the loss of the veteran broadcaster.

“May the soul of our boss rest in peace. Pa Timothy Agboola ‘Ereke ni Shop’. Baba Oloye Repete… A broadcaster, actor, comedian. May God Almighty give you eternal rest in peace. Amen. Ereke ni Shop sun re o,” he wrote.

Agboola gained wide attention through his unique storytelling style and lively comedy.

His radio shows often combined humour with social observations about daily life, which made him popular among many Yoruba listeners.

During his long career in the entertainment industry, he worked with several well-known entertainers, including Baba Alajeju.

Some of his comedy performances date back to the 1970s when he was already becoming known for his lively stage presence.

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I Don’t Leave My House Without Going Through Newspapers – Tinubu

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President Bola Tinubu has assured Nigerians that he is always concerned about the welfare of the masses.

He disclosed that he reads about happenings in the country every morning before leaving home.

Tinubu stated this during an interfaith breaking of fast with senior journalists and media executives at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

He said that he was a little bit stubborn at the beginning of his administration.

The president also stated that his administration has opened up on the principles of true federalism to the extent that local governments now get direct allocation from the Federal Government.

He said, “There’s no morning that I ever leave my house without going through the newspapers. It’s an addiction. I read all of you.

“It might not be in full detail, but headline, the one that would hit me and the ones that won’t.

“At the beginning of this administration, I was just a little bit stubborn, looking at opportunities to correct things and make life more easier for the downtrodden.”

Meanwhile, Tinubu has stated that improving Nigeria is a collective responsibility.

He asserted that the country’s development cannot be the sole responsibility of the federal government and urged the media to hold states and local governments accountable.

The President stated this on Friday when he hosted media executives and proprietors at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa in Abuja.

Tinubu cited increased financial autonomy for the lower tiers of government and urged the media to extend the same level of scrutiny they apply to his government to the local and state administrations.

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“We’ve opened up the principle of federalism to the extent that local governments are now getting their money. But how they use it is in your hands,” Tinubu said.

“So don’t bombard me alone; look at the local government too. Yes, we can complain it’s not enough; we can complain we are not where we should be. But we have to manage what we have to sustain today, survive tomorrow, and make progress.

“Today, there is no state that is borrowing to pay the salaries of employees,” he told the gathering.

“Yes, we can complain that it’s not enough. We can complain we are not where we should be, but we have to manage what we have to sustain today, survive tomorrow, and make progress,” he added.

The ex-Lagos State governor reiterated his commitment to doing the job with dedication.

“And I promise you, the job that I continue to do is dedication, patriotic dedication to improve Nigeria. It’s all in our hands; it’s a collective responsibility,” he said.

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US Lawmaker, Moore Alleges American University Shooter Met ISIL In Nigeria

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United States lawmaker, Riley Moore, has alleged that a shooter who attacked Old Dominion University in Virginia met with members of the extremist group Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in Nigeria before carrying out the incident.

Moore made the allegation on his 𝕏 account on Saturday, in response to the attack.

It was understands that the attacker, Bailor Jalloh, a former Virginia National Guard member and convicted supporter of ISIS, entered a classroom filled with Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) students and opened fire.

According to the FBI, the gunman shouted “Allahu Akbar”, Arabic for “God is greater”, before shooting at students inside Constant Hall.

The classroom quickly descended into chaos as terrified students scrambled for safety.

However, several ROTC students bravely confronted the gunman and ultimately subdued him, preventing what authorities believe could have been a far deadlier massacre.

Reacting to the development, the lawmaker claimed that the suspect was earlier imprisoned but was released before the attack despite alleged ties to the terrorist group.

“The radical Islamic terrorist who attacked Old Dominion yesterday was let out of prison early despite meeting with ISIL in Nigeria and seeking to aide and abet ISIL in carrying out an attack on our homeland,” Moore said.

The congressman criticised the circumstances surrounding the suspect’s release, describing the development as alarming and unacceptable.

“This is insane, and it MUST END! That’s why I’m introducing a bill to denaturalize and deport any naturalized citizen who seeks to commit a terrorist attack or aids and abets terrorism against the American people,” he said.

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