US Considers New Travel Ban on 22 African Countries, 21 Others

The United States government, under President Donald Trump, is reportedly considering a new travel ban that would restrict entry for citizens from 43 countries, including 22 African nations. This proposed measure, expected to be more extensive than the travel ban implemented during Trump’s first term, is raising concerns among affected nations.

According to The New York Times, U.S. diplomatic and security officials have drafted a list categorizing the 43 nations into three levels of restrictions: the “red” list, “orange” list, and “yellow” list.

Breakdown of the Travel Ban Lists:

• Red List (Total: 11 countries) – Citizens from these countries would face an outright travel ban, barring them from entering the U.S. The African countries in this category are Libya, Somalia, and Sudan. Other nations include Afghanistan, Bhutan, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria, Venezuela, and Yemen.
• Orange List (Total: 10 countries) – Individuals from these countries will face significant travel restrictions. While wealthy business travelers may be granted entry, those applying for immigrant or tourist visas will likely be denied. The African nations included are Eritrea, Sierra Leone, and South Sudan, alongside Belarus, Haiti, Laos, Myanmar, Pakistan, Russia, and Turkmenistan.
• Yellow List (Total: 22 countries) – These countries have a 60-day window to address U.S. concerns before a final decision is made. The 16 African nations affected are Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, Republic of Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gambia, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, São Tomé and Príncipe, and Zimbabwe. The remaining six are Antigua and Barbuda, Cambodia, Dominica, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, and Vanuatu.

Nigeria Not Included in the Ban

Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, has notably been left out of the proposed list. This aligns with previous travel bans imposed during Trump’s first term, which focused mainly on Muslim-majority and developing nations.

Uncertain Future of the Ban

While the list has not yet been officially approved by the administration, it has already drawn criticism. Many of the affected countries share similarities with those targeted in Trump’s first-term travel bans, raising concerns of bias against non-Western nations.

The travel restrictions are expected to spark diplomatic responses from the affected nations, with leaders likely to negotiate exemptions or challenge the measures. The U.S. government has not provided a specific timeline for finalizing the ban, but further developments are anticipated in the coming weeks.

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US Considers New Travel Ban on 22 African Countries, 21 Others