Chad has announced an immediate suspension of all visas for U.S. citizens, citing reciprocity after the country was included in a new travel ban issued by U.S. President Donald Trump. The decision was made public by President Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno via a statement on Facebook, emphasizing that while Chad may lack economic might, it retains its dignity and sovereignty.
The U.S. travel ban, which takes effect on Monday, prohibits entry to nationals from 12 countries, including seven African nations: Chad, Congo-Brazzaville, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Libya, Somalia, and Sudan. The order also targets Afghanistan, Myanmar, Haiti, Iran, and Yemen. Additionally, the U.S. is imposing restrictions on certain visa types for citizens of Burundi, Sierra Leone, Togo, Cuba, Laos, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela, citing concerns over document security and visa overstays.
In a video message, President Trump justified the move as necessary for national security, stating, “We will not allow people to enter our country who wish to do us harm.” He added that the list of affected countries could be revised if governments make “material improvements” or if new threats arise. The White House defended the policy as “common-sense restrictions” designed to protect Americans from “dangerous foreign actors.” However, the move has sparked strong backlash across Africa, with critics describing it as discriminatory and diplomatically damaging.
Chad’s retaliatory visa suspension marks the first formal diplomatic response from an affected African nation, highlighting growing frustration over Washington’s approach to global mobility and security.
