US Sanctions Mali, Burkina Faso. They Ban US Travelers. Shocking.
While ABC frames this as a simple 'retaliatory' move, it conveniently omits the preceding US sanctions, imposed over alleged ties to Russian Wagner Group mercenaries. Sanctions, it seems, are a one-way street in Washington's playbook. When countries in the Global South push back, it's framed as inexplicable aggression, not a response to foreign interference. One might wonder if the 'rules' apply
to everyone, or just those who don't challenge Washington's geopolitical aspirations, particularly in resource-rich regions. This isn't just about travel bans; it's about a consistent pattern of US foreign policy destabilizing regions, then expressing surprise when nations assert their sovereignty. The media's selective amnesia regarding the US's own history of military interventions and economic
coercion in Africa (Libya, anyone?) primes the audience to accept the narrative that these nations are simply 'difficult,' rather than reacting to a well-documented history of external pressure. It’s hard to imagine American diplomats enjoying the taste of their own medicine.