By Genevieve Azelama
The U.S President has placed a travel ban and restriction on 19 countries, 10 of which are African countries. The proclamation signed effectively bans citizens of 12 nations, namely Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Congo Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen, from entering the United States, there was also a partial restriction placed on 7 other countries namely Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela.
These travel restrictions will essentially affect 10 African countries. The travel restrictions are part of the administration’s immigration crackdown policies. A similar ban like this was placed during Trump’s first term in office, tagged the Muslim ban, as it banned travel of citizens of seven Muslim countries from traveling into the United States. 
These restrictions will take effect from the 9th of June 2025 at 12:01 a.m. However, visas issued before the 9th of June will not be revoked. In response to these travel restrictions, the nation of Chad has retaliated by stopping the issuing of Visas to US citizens, as directed by the president, Idriss Deby.
A spokesperson from the Congo Republic, Thierry Moungalla, also commented on the restrictions, saying the country’s inclusion in the travel restrictions has to be a mistake, as Congo is neither a terrorist state nor does it harbor any terrorists, or known for having any terrorist tendencies.
