Chad halts US visas in revenge for Trump travel ban
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Chad halts visas to US citizens in a retaliatory move after being listed in Trump's new travel ban affecting 12 nations.
Chad Suspends US Visas in Retaliation to Trump’s New Travel Ban
Chad has announced it will suspend issuing visas to US citizens in a retaliatory move after being listed among countries facing new US travel restrictions under an executive order signed by former President Donald Trump.
Chad’s President Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno announced the decision on Facebook, stating, “Chad has neither planes to offer nor billions of dollars to give, but Chad has its dignity and pride.” The move was described as one of “reciprocity,” expressing dismay over the ban that takes effect on June 9.
The US travel ban targets 12 countries, seven of them in Africa: Chad, Congo-Brazzaville, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Libya, Somalia, and Sudan. It also includes Afghanistan, Myanmar, Haiti, Iran, and Yemen. In addition, nationals from countries like Burundi, Sierra Leone, Togo, Cuba, Laos, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela will face restrictions on specific visa categories.
The Trump administration has defended the order as a national security measure. In a video posted on social media, Trump stated, “We will not allow people to enter our country who wish to do us harm.” The White House added that the list of banned countries could change depending on global security developments and whether countries improve their screening systems.
The African Union, however, expressed concern over the policy, calling on the United States to adopt a more cooperative approach. A spokesperson for the AU said the ban could damage longstanding diplomatic and people-to-people relationships between the US and African nations.
Chad’s Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Sabre Fadoul said the country was “surprised” by its inclusion and rejected the terrorism-related justification for the restriction. “This completely disregards Chad’s commitment and proven results in fighting terrorism,” he said in a statement to AFP.
Somalia responded differently, pledging to work with the US to resolve any issues. “We value our longstanding relationship with America,” said Somali ambassador Dahir Hassan Abdi, while expressing concern over the decision.
Eritrean citizens expressed deep frustration. Speaking anonymously to the BBC, one man said, “We’ve already suffered under our regime at home and now we face the same hardship under Trump’s policies.” Eritrea, ruled by President Isaias Afwerki since 1993, has seen thousands flee the country due to indefinite military conscription and harsh living conditions.
A woman hoping to reunite with her husband in the US told the BBC, “We’ve done everything legally, but now we’re left in limbo. No one is giving us clear answers.”
The Biden administration had repealed a similar 2017 Trump-era ban in 2021, calling it “a stain on our national conscience.” However, Trump’s 2024 campaign included promises to reinstate travel bans under the guise of national security — and this new order is the result.
The 2017 ban originally targeted Muslim-majority countries, drawing criticism as a “Muslim ban.” That version was revised to include non-Muslim-majority countries like North Korea and Venezuela before being upheld by the US Supreme Court in 2018.
This new order cites reasons such as terrorism risks, weak passport and civil documentation systems, and high visa overstay rates. The White House claims that in some countries like Equatorial Guinea, overstay rates for certain visa types reached 70%.
The policy exempts certain groups, including dual nationals and athletes participating in major international events like the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. Visas issued before June 9 will remain valid.
Despite its diplomatic tone, Chad’s decision to suspend visas to Americans has sent a clear message of frustration. It marks one of the few direct retaliatory measures by an African nation against a US travel restriction and underscores the growing strain in US-Africa relations under the new Trump policy.
The travel ban is expected to face legal challenges, as it did previously. Human rights organizations, immigration advocacy groups, and several lawmakers have already criticized the move.
For now, countries like Chad are signaling that dignity, not silence, will guide their response.
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