Two West African nations have issued a simultaneous ban on American citizens in a diplomatic tit-for-tat move, amidst heightened tensions with both the United States and Europe, and as Russia seeks to increase its economic and geopolitical influence in the region.

Mali and Burkina Faso made the move in response to the Trump administration's Dec. 16 expansion of travel restrictions to more than 20 countries. The policy particularly affected the African continent, with Chad, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Libya, Niger, Republic of the Congo, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, and Sudan also being subject to travel restrictions.

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The Trump administration cited the persistence of armed attacks in both nations as part of the rationale for its decision:

"According to the Department of State, terrorist organizations continue to plan and conduct terrorist activities throughout Burkina Faso. According to the Fiscal Year 2024, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Entry/Exit Overstay Report ("Overstay Report"), Burkina Faso had a B-1/B-2 visa overstay rate of 9.16 percent and a student (F), vocational (M), and exchange visitor (J) visa overstay rate of 22.95 percent.  Additionally, Burkina Faso has historically refused to accept back its removable nationals."

Regarding its decision to include Mali on the list, it stated:

"According to the Department of State, armed conflict between the Malian government and armed groups is common throughout the country.  Terrorist organizations operate freely in certain areas of Mali."

Burkina Faso and Mali are both currently ruled by military juntas that came to power amidst rising violence and instability, as both nations came under attack from Islamist terrorist groups.

Both nations have also seen a rise in anti-French sentiment, in conjunction with deepening relationships with Russia, which has pledged to offer assistance in fighting back the Islamist rebels battling the central governments for territorial control.

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"In accordance with the principle of reciprocity, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation informs the national and international community that, with immediate effect, the Government of the Republic of Mali will apply the same conditions and requirements to US nationals as those imposed on Malian citizens," the Malian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated.

Burkina Faso's government cited a similar rationale for issuing its ban on American travelers.

Both nations, as well as neighboring Niger and Nigeria, have seen skyrocketing violence in recent years, as chronically underfunded governments struggle to retain control of rural, sparsely-populated desert regions.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani is expected to announce Wednesday that he will appoint Kamar Samuels, a longtime New York City educator and Manhattan superintendent, as the next schools chancellor, according to multiple reports.

Samuels, who has been an educator with New York City public schools for almost two decades, is known for promoting racial diversity through school mergers and for working to dismantle the Gifted & Talented program, which some critics argue is racially biased, the New York Post reported.

The schools chancellor oversees the nation’s largest public school system, educating more than 900,000 students across roughly 1,600 schools and employing roughly 135,000 people.

Samuels led school mergers aimed at racial integration while overseeing a de Blasio administration effort to increase diversity in certain Brooklyn middle schools, according to Chalkbeat.

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According to the Post, Samuels has also backed the International Baccalaureate program, which he said aligns with his philosophy of expanding opportunities for students while investing in teachers.

Samuels’ appointment would align with Mamdani’s campaign pledge to reshape education policy under his administration.

In October, Mamdani told The New York Times he would renew a plan first proposed by former Mayor Bill de Blasio in 2021, which sought to eliminate the Gifted & Talented test for public school kindergartners, opting for a universal test in second grade.

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Mayor Eric Adams halted de Blasio's initiative when he took office, according to the Post.

Mamdani's pick for schools chancellor was first reported by City & State.

Samuels began his career as an elementary school teacher in the Bronx before moving into school leadership as a middle school principal in the borough. He later served as deputy superintendent in Brooklyn’s Community School District 23, then as superintendent of Community School District 13, before taking over as superintendent of Manhattan’s District 3.

"It's a politically challenging assignment to run District 3, really, and he ran it at a very challenging time," said Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine told City & State. "He consistently just showed incredible sensitivity and nuance and stuck to his principles."

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Samuels would succeed outgoing Schools Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos, who reportedly sought to remain in the role, the publication added.

Mamdani will be sworn in as New York City’s next mayor on Thursday, Jan. 1.

Fox News Digital has reached out to Mamdani’s team for comment.

Fox News Digital's Deirdre Heavey contributed to this report.