The African Union has criticized the new executive order signed by President Donald Trump earlier this week, which blocks nearly all travel to the United States for nationals of 12 countries—including Chad, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Libya, Sudan, and Somalia.
In addition, a partial ban was imposed on citizens from seven other nations—Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela—restricting entry to certain visa categories, such as those for temporary employment.
Framed as part of a broader immigration and national security policy, the expanded travel ban has drawn widespread international criticism, with many raising concerns over its fairness, lack of transparency, and disproportionate impact on African and developing countries.
AU opposes ban, calls for more engagement
The African Union has described the travel ban as a blow to Africa-US diplomatic ties and emphasized the need for mutual respect.
While acknowledging nations’ sovereign rights to protect their borders, the AU stressed that such actions should be balanced and evidence-based.
The Commission expressed concern about the potential negative impact on people-to-people ties, education, commerce, and diplomatic relations.
“The Commission remains concerned about the potential negative impact of such measures on people-to-people ties, educational exchange, commercial engagement, and the broader diplomatic relations that have been carefully nurtured over decades. Africa and the United States share mutual interests in promoting peace, prosperity, and global cooperation,”
“The African Union Commission respectfully calls upon the U.S. Administration to consider adopting a more consultative approach and to engage in constructive dialogue with the countries concerned.” it noted.
President Trump stated that the list of affected countries could be revised if “material improvements” are made, and that additional nations may be added in the future as new threats emerge globally.
The newly expanded ban is set to take effect on Monday at 12:01 a.m. EDT (04:01 GMT), allowing a brief window for implementation, unlike the abrupt rollout of the 2017 ban that caused significant disruption at airports across the United States.
No end date has been specified for the current order, though it mandates periodic reviews to assess whether adjustments are warranted.
