On Wednesday, U.S. President Donald Trump signed a proclamation reinstating a travel ban targeting citizens from 12 countries, including 10 African nations. The directive, which takes effect on June 9, cites national security concerns, weak vetting systems, and high visa overstay rates as justification.
While some countries face a full ban, others are subject to partial restrictions that limit certain types of visas. The move has sparked intense discussion over its timing, intent, and long-term consequences for U.S. foreign relations, particularly with Africa.
Full travel ban targets seven African nations
The proclamation imposes a complete suspension of both immigrant and non-immigrant visas for nationals of Chad, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Libya, Somalia, and Sudan. These seven countries were identified as having severe deficiencies in passport security, identity verification, or cooperation with the U.S. government on immigration matters.
According to the Department of Homeland Security, overstay rates among visitors from these nations were particularly alarming. For instance, Chad recorded a staggering 49.5 percent overstay rate, followed by Equatorial Guinea (22 percent) and Eritrea (20 percent). Trump’s order claims that such statistics point to systemic risks that threaten U.S. national security and public safety.
The proclamation also refers to Somalia and Libya, as terrorist breeding grounds or states affected by ongoing conflict. Eritrea and Sudan were singled out for their lack of cooperation with U.S. authorities in the repatriation of nationals who overstay or violate immigration terms.
Three African countries face partial visa restrictions
In addition to the full bans, the order applies partial travel restrictions to Burundi, Sierra Leone, and Togo. For these countries, specific visa categories—such as B-1/B-2 (tourism/business), F (student), M (vocational), and J (exchange visitor)—will be suspended or limited.
These restrictions are said to reflect each country’s failure to meet U.S. standards for identity management, travel documentation, and information sharing. While the nations are not entirely barred from entry, travellers from these countries will now face significantly tighter scrutiny and limited visa availability.
The policy includes exemptions for green card holders, dual nationals travelling on passports from non-banned countries, diplomats, adoptees, athletes competing in major events, and close family members of U.S. citizens under specific visa categories—provided DNA evidence or documentation supports their eligibility.
National security at the core of the ban
Trump defended the move by referencing a recent attack in Boulder, Colorado, where an Egyptian national reportedly overstayed a tourist visa and carried out a hate-motivated assault. Although neither Egypt nor Kuwait, where the suspect previously lived, are on the list, Trump used the incident to bolster his call for stricter immigration vetting.
In a video on Truth Social, Trump stated, “We will restore the travel ban… and keep radical Islamic terrorists out of our country.” He also hinted that the list could expand if new threats emerge or if targeted nations fail to improve vetting practices.
The June 2025 proclamation echoes Trump’s earlier travel bans, including the 2017 “Muslim Ban,” which was upheld by the Supreme Court and later repealed by President Biden in 2021. With the new order, Trump signals a return to his hardline stance on immigration, potentially reigniting diplomatic tensions with African nations, some of whom were only recently removed from prior bans.
The reinstated travel ban affects a total of 10 African countries—seven are under full suspension, and three are under partial visa restrictions. While the Trump campaign frames the move as a national security measure, critics argue that it could damage international relationships and disproportionately affect majority-Black nations. Whether this policy will stand legal and diplomatic scrutiny remains to be seen when it takes effect on June 9.