Chadian president orders visa ban on US nationals after Trump’s ban

Chad has suspended the issuance of visas to United States citizens, in a retaliatory move against the travel ban imposed by former US President Donald Trump.

President Mahamat Idriss Itno made the announcement on Thursday, June 5, via a Facebook post, instructing his government to enforce the new restriction in line with the principle of reciprocity.

“I instructed the government to act in accordance with the principles of reciprocity and suspend the issuance of visas to citizens of the United States of America,” Itno wrote. “Chad has no planes to offer, no billions of dollars to give but Chad has his dignity and pride.”

The US travel ban, initially introduced by Trump citing national security concerns, affected 12 countries, seven of which are African. In addition to Chad, the list includes Afghanistan, Congo, Yemen, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Sudan, Myanmar, Somalia, Libya, and Equatorial Guinea.

The directive also imposed stricter visa restrictions on citizens from Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela. Though the ban allows for exemptions at the discretion of the US Secretary of State on a “case-by-case” basis, critics say it disproportionately targets African and Muslim-majority countries.

The African Union has voiced concern over the policy, warning of its potential negative impact on diplomatic relations and regional cooperation. In a statement, the AU urged the United States to pursue a more consultative approach with the countries affected.