Chad suspends visas for Americans in retaliation for U.S. travel ban
Chad has announced the immediate suspension of all visa issuance to United States citizens, in a retaliatory response to Washington’s decision to bar Chadian nationals from entering the country.
The move, framed by Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno, Chadian president, as one of “reciprocity and dignity,” marks one of the most direct diplomatic pushbacks by an African nation in the wake of the latest U.S. travel restrictions.
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In a statement posted on his official Facebook page in French, president Déby said: “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. Chad has no planes to offer, no billions of dollars to give—but Chad has his dignity and pride.”
The United States’ revised travel ban, signed by president Donald Trump, targets citizens from 12 countries—seven of them African—including Chad, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Libya, Sudan, and Somalia. The policy has reignited criticism over what is widely perceived across the continent as an arbitrary and politically motivated approach to immigration.
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Chad’s response underscores rising frustration among African nations, and comes amid mounting demands for mutual respect in international diplomacy. While the immediate effect on U.S. travellers to Chad may be limited, the symbolic weight of the decision is significant.
A partial visa ban has also been imposed on citizens of Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela—limiting entry primarily under temporary employment categories. But it is Chad’s clear and decisive reaction that has drawn the most attention, with speculation now turning to whether other African countries will adopt similar measures.
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Chad plays a key role in regional counterterrorism operations in the Sahel and has long been considered a strategic partner of the United States in Central Africa. Any disruption in diplomatic ties could have consequences for broader security cooperation.
