Trump hits 10 African countries with travel ban and restrictions

Africa is the continent most affected by the travel ban. US President Donald Trump announced this ban, which starts on Monday.

Seven of the 12 countries on the list are in Africa. The banned countries are Chad, Congo-Brazzaville, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Libya, Somalia, and Sudan. Other banned nations include Afghanistan, Myanmar, Haiti, Iran, and Yemen.

Travel restrictions will also apply to Burundi, Sierra Leone, Togo, Cuba, Laos, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela. These countries will face limits on certain visas.

Trump stated that the US will not allow harmful individuals to enter. He mentioned that the list could change with "material improvements." Additional countries may be added as threats arise globally.

The White House described these measures as "common-sense restrictions." They aim to protect Americans from dangerous foreign actors. Trump referenced a recent terror attack in Boulder as evidence of risks from unvetted foreigners.

However, the suspect in that attack is Egyptian. Egypt is not included in the travel ban list.

The White House explained that some countries lack competent authorities for issuing passports. Countries like Libya and Somalia are currently involved in civil wars. They also noted a persistent terrorist threat from Somalia and a historical presence in Libya.

Other affected nations have high rates of visa overstays. For example, Togo has a 15% overstay rate while Equatorial Guinea has up to 70%.

Somalia has pledged to cooperate with the US on security issues. Somali ambassador Dahir Hassan Abdi emphasized his country's valued relationship with America.

The ban takes effect on June 9th to avoid chaos at airports. Visas issued before this date will remain valid.

Dual nationals and athletes participating in major events will not be impacted by this ban. This includes those involved in the 2026 men's football World Cup and the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.

This travel ban fulfills a promise Trump made during his 2024 campaign. It is expected to face legal challenges quickly.

Trump signed a similar order during his first term in office back in 2017. That order included some of the same countries now listed: Libya, Somalia, and Iran.

Critics labeled it a "Muslim ban" since many listed countries are Muslim-majority. The policy was revised later to include North Korea and Venezuela as non-Muslim majority nations.

The Supreme Court upheld this revised policy in 2018. President Joe Biden repealed the ban when he took office in 2021 calling it "a stain on our national conscience."