American government considers new travel ban on 22 African countries, 21 others

The United States of America (USA) is said to be considering a new travel ban targeting 22 African countries and 21 others, but Nigeria said not to be on the list, with the proposed ban expected to be broader than the restrictions imposed during President Donald Trump’s first term.

Penpushing reports that the America diplomatic and security officials developed the draft list of 43 countries, which suggests a “red” list of 11 countries, an “orange” list of 10 countries, and a “yellow” list of 22 countries.

The citizens of countries on the red list would be flatly barred from entering the United States of America (USA), while those whose countries on the orange list will face travel restrictions.

Penpushing further reports that affluent business travellers from such countries might be granted entry in these cases, but individuals arriving on immigrant or tourist visas would be denied access.

The countries on the yellow list will be given a 60-day window to address concerns before a verdict is reached, while out of the 43 countries, 22 are African nations, the red list has three African countries – Libya, Somalia, and Sudan.

Penpushing also reports that the rest of the countries from other continents on the red list are Afghanistan, Bhutan, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria, Venezuela and Yemen, while in same vein there are three African countries – Eritrea, Sierra Leone, and South Sudan – on the orange list. The rest are Belarus, Haiti, Laos, Myanmar, Pakistan, Russia, and Turkmenistan.

The Africa dominates the yellow list with 16 and include 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.

Penpushing reports that an official speaking on the condition of anonymity said the remaining six countries on the list are Antigua and Barbuda, Cambodia, Dominica, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia and Vanuatu.

The official, however, stated that the list could be changed as it has yet to be approved by the administration, while it is recalled that President Trump sanctioned some countries on the draft red and orange lists in his first-term travel bans.

Penpushing further reports that in addition the new countries on the list share characteristics with the previous lists—generally Muslim-majority or otherwise non-white, developing countries.

The record has it that Nigeria was not included in the initial travel ban implemented under Trump’s first administration, while the ban had targeted seven predominantly Muslim-majority countries: Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen.

Penpushing also reports that subsequent revisions to the travel ban occurred, but Nigeria was not affected until 2020, when the administration announced an expansion of the travel restrictions to include Nigeria and five additional countries

Meanwhile, this expansion specifically targeted immigrant visas, restricting permanent residency applications from the country, while the ban was reversed in 2021 under Joe Biden’s administration.

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