The Department of State today imposed restrictions on travel to the United States on persons and the immediate family of persons who block Mali’s return to civilian rule and a democratically elected government, including those who actively promote Captain Amadou Sanogo and the National Committee for the Restoration of Democracy, who seized power from democratically elected President Amadou Toumani Touré on March 21, 2012. The decision to impose visa restrictions follows and supports the decision of the Economic Community of West African States and the African Union to impose similar sanctions.

The United States reiterates its call on Captain Sanogo and his supporters to restore full civilian rule to Mali without delay.