A new travel ban signed by U.S. President Donald Trump has sparked outrage across Africa and beyond. The policy, which came into effect on June 9, 2025, places full or partial restrictions on nationals from 19 countries—10 of them African.
The full travel ban affects people from Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Congo-Brazzaville, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. Citizens from these countries are now barred from entering the United States. Meanwhile, partial restrictions apply to Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela.
President Trump said the move is meant to protect the U.S. from potential security threats and reduce illegal immigration. In a video shared on his platform, Truth Social, he explained that the U.S. cannot allow migration from countries it cannot “safely and reliably vet.” He also accused several of the listed nations of abusing the visa system, overstaying visits, or refusing to accept deported citizens. According to Trump, the list will be reviewed in three months and could be updated every six months moving forward.
The decision has drawn a swift response, especially from Africa. Chad’s President, Mahamat Déby, suspended visa issuance to U.S. citizens in retaliation, saying, “Chad has no planes to offer, no billions of dollars to give, but Chad has its dignity and pride.” Somalia, which is also on the banned list, responded more diplomatically. Its ambassador to the U.S., Dahir Hassan Abdi, said Somalia remains committed to working with the United States on security issues and values the countries’ relationship.
The African Union expressed concern over the potential fallout from the policy and urged the U.S. government to choose dialogue and mutual respect over harsh restrictions. In a statement, the Union warned that such a ban could damage international cooperation and relationships built over years of engagement.
The reasons for the ban vary from country to country. Afghanistan and Iran were accused of terrorism links and poor cooperation with U.S. security agencies. Somalia and Libya were described as “terrorist safe havens.” Haiti was blamed for contributing to criminal activity through mass migration. Countries like Chad, Equatorial Guinea, and Congo-Brazzaville were cited mainly for high visa overstay rates.
Venezuela, which falls under partial restrictions, also issued a strong response. Its Interior Minister, Diosdado Cabello, called the ban an act of “global supremacy” and warned Venezuelans that being in the U.S. now poses a risk. Cuba was accused of sponsoring terrorism and refusing to accept deportees, while Togo, Laos, and Sierra Leone were flagged for similar immigration-related violations.
Although this isn’t Trump’s first travel ban, it’s the most far-reaching in terms of African countries affected. Critics fear it could disrupt families, impact students and workers, and significantly strain U.S.-Africa relations in the long run.
