Chadian President Mahamat Idriss Itno has taken reciprocal action following the United States' decision to suspend visa issuance to Chadian citizens.
On Thursday, June 5th, President Itno announced via Facebook that he had instructed his government to implement a visa ban on US citizens. This move, he stated, aligns with the principle of reciprocity, emphasizing Chad's dignity and pride despite not having "planes to offer, no billions of dollars to give."
The US travel ban, originally enacted under the Trump administration due to perceived national security concerns, impacted a total of 12 countries, including seven African nations. Besides Chad, the list of affected countries includes Afghanistan, Congo, Yemen, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Sudan, Myanmar, Somalia, Libya, and Equatorial Guinea. Furthermore, stricter visa restrictions were imposed on citizens from Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela. While the ban allows for case-by-case exemptions at the discretion of the US Secretary of State, it has drawn criticism for allegedly disproportionately targeting African and Muslim-majority countries.
The African Union has expressed its concern over the policy, highlighting its potential negative impact on diplomatic relations and regional cooperation, and has urged the United States to adopt a more consultative approach with the affected nations.
