Chad’s President Mahamat Idriss Deby has announced that his country will suspend the issuance of visas to U.S. citizens in response to President Donald Trump’s decision to ban citizens from twelve African countries from visiting the U.S.
President Donald Trump on Wednesday announced the visa ban on 12 countries including Chad, accusing them of having “deficient” screening and vetting, and historically refusing to take back their own citizens who overstay in the United States.
Other countries targeted in Trump’s new ban include Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen.
Trump also announced that there will be heightened restrictions on visitors from seven others in the new travel policy which takes effect Monday at 12:01 a.m.
In a Facebook post, Chad’s president said he is directing his government to suspend visas to U.S. citizens “in accordance with the principles of reciprocity.”
“Chad has no planes to offer, no billions of dollars to give but Chad has his dignity and pride,” Deby said,
The new travel policy has triggered varied reactions from across Africa. In its statement on Thursday, the African Union’s Commission appealed to the US to reconsider and instead adopt a consultative approach in resolving the disputes.
The AUC expressed concern on over the potential negative impact of the new travel ban announced by Trump on Wednesday. ”The Commission remains concerned about the potential negative impact of such measures on people-to-people ties, educational exchange, commercial engagement, and the broader diplomatic relations that have been carefully nurtured over decades.” stated part of the statement.
In the Republic of Congo, government spokesperson Thierry Moungalla said he believes the country was among those affected because of a “misunderstanding” over an armed attack in the U.S. with the perpetrators “mistaken” to be from the Republic of Congo.
In Sierra Leone, among countries with heightened travel restrictions, Information Minister Chernor Bah said the country is committed to addressing the concerns that prompted the ban.
