A significant development is unfolding in the United States, as President Donald Trump considers imposing a travel ban on citizens of Nigeria and 35 other countries. This potential expansion of the travel ban, announced earlier this month, has sent shockwaves around the world. According to a memo from the State Department, obtained by The Washington Post, the list of affected countries includes 25 African nations that will face visa bans or other restrictions.
The memo, signed by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, not Marco Rubio, reveals that the governments of these countries have a 60-day deadline to meet new benchmarks and requirements set by the State Department. The deadline for submitting an initial action plan is 8am on Wednesday. The countries in question have been identified as having inadequate systems for producing reliable identity documents, or suffering from widespread government fraud. Additionally, some countries have large numbers of citizens who have overstayed their visas in the United States.
The list of countries facing scrutiny is extensive, and includes Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Ethiopia, Egypt, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kyrgyzstan, Liberia, Malawi, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, South Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Tonga, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. The implications of this potential travel ban are far-reaching, and the international community is watching closely as the situation unfolds. As the deadline approaches, it remains to be seen how these countries will respond to the ultimatum, and what the consequences will be for their citizens.
