Chad President Mahamat Idriss Itno has announced the suspension of issuance of visas to Americans after the United States government included the west African country among list of countries in its travel restrictions.
This was after the U.S. President Donald Trump justified it on the grounds of safeguarding national security.
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On Thursday, President Itno in a Facebook post described his country’s decision as an act of diplomatic reciprocity.
“I instructed the government to act in accordance with the principles of reciprocity and suspend the issuance of visas to citizens of the United States of America,” the Chadian leader said.
“Chad has no planes to offer, no billions of dollars to give but Chad has his dignity and pride.”
Chad is one of seven African nations affected by the ban, making the continent the most significantly impacted. Other nations on the list include Afghanistan, Congo, Yemen, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Sudan, Myanmar, Somalia, Libya, and Equatorial Guinea.
The U.S. policy also enforces stricter entry conditions for individuals from countries such as Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela.
Despite the blanket nature of the restrictions, the policy does allow for exemptions in specific instances, as stated by the U.S. government.
The Secretary of State may authorize waivers on a “case-by-case” basis.
Reacting to the broader implications, the African Union expressed concerns regarding the long-term effects of the U.S. measures.
The continental body urged Washington to engage more constructively with the countries involved, advocating for a more inclusive and consultative process.
