The United States government, under former President Donald Trump, is considering a new travel ban that may affect 43 countries. Out of these, 22 are African nations.
According to a report by The New York Times on Friday, US diplomatic and security officials created a draft list of countries that could face travel restrictions. The list is divided into three categories:
– Red List (11 countries) – Complete travel ban.
– Orange List (10 countries) – Strict travel restrictions.
– Yellow List (22 countries) – A 60-day period to address concerns before restrictions are decided.
The Red List includes three African countries—Libya, Somalia, and Sudan—alongside Afghanistan, Bhutan, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria, Venezuela, and Yemen.
The Orange List includes Eritrea, Sierra Leone, and South Sudan from Africa, as well as Belarus, Haiti, Laos, Myanmar, Pakistan, Russia, and Turkmenistan.
The Yellow List has 16 African countries, including Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, Republic of Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gambia, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, São Tomé and Príncipe, and Zimbabwe. Other nations on this list are Antigua and Barbuda, Cambodia, Dominica, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, and Vanuatu.
Nigeria is not on the list.
A US official, speaking anonymously, told The New York Times that the draft is still under review and may change before it is finalized.
During Trump’s first term, the US introduced a travel ban that affected several Muslim-majority and developing countries. While Nigeria was not included in the first ban, it was later added in 2020 when the administration expanded restrictions on immigrant visas.
In 2021, President Joe Biden reversed the ban.
The proposed new travel ban is expected to be broader than the previous one, but it remains unclear if and when it will be officially approved.
