WASHINGTON – The Trump administration is considering travel restrictions on 25 African countries in a sweeping expansion that would affect more than half the continent, according to a State Department memo reviewed by The Washington Post.
The potential expansion would dramatically escalate an already controversial policy that currently bans citizens from seven African nations.
African countries facing potential restrictions include Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Malawi, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
The African Union’s Commission expressed concern on Thursday about the potential negative impact of the new travel ban on educational exchanges, commercial engagement and broader diplomatic relations.
“The African Union Commission respectfully calls upon the US administration to consider adopting a more consultative approach,” the bloc said in a statement.
The inclusion of Egypt marks a significant diplomatic shift. Egypt hosts major American military operations and receives substantial US aid. Djibouti houses the only permanent U.S. military base in Africa.
Egypt was notably absent from the current ban, despite restrictions being expedited after an Egyptian national was charged with attempted murder following a Molotov cocktail attack in Boulder, Colorado.
President Trump told reporters: “Egypt has been a country that we deal with very closely. They have things under control.”
African nations have responded with defiance and diplomacy. Chad’s President Idriss Deby instructed his government to stop issuing visas to U.S. citizens.
“Chad has no planes to offer, no billions of dollars to give but Chad has his dignity and pride,” he wrote on Facebook.
Congo Republic’s government spokesperson Thierry Moungalla called his country’s inclusion “a misunderstanding.”
“Congo is neither a terrorist state, nor does it harbor any terrorists,” Moungalla told journalists.
Somalia struck a more conciliatory tone. Ambassador Dahir Hassan Abdi said Somalia “values its longstanding relationship with the United States and stands ready to engage in dialogue.”
The current travel ban already affects seven African countries. Chad, Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Libya, Somalia, and Sudan face full bans. Burundi, Sierra Leone, and Togo face partial restrictions.
The memo, signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, gives governments 60 days to comply with new U.S. screening and security benchmarks.
Nations must submit initial action plans by Wednesday, 18 June at 08:00.
The African Union warned about impacts on “people-to-people ties, educational exchange, commercial engagement, and the broader diplomatic relations carefully nurtured over decades.”
The expansion comes as U.S.-Africa relations face additional strain. In April, Trump imposed tariffs on African countries, with Lesotho facing 50%, Madagascar 47%, and Mauritius 40%.
Critics note Trump has previously derided Haiti and African nations as “shithole” countries whilst expressing preference for European immigrants.
The administration maintains restrictions are necessary for national security, citing inadequate identity verification systems and high visa overstay rates.
Countries can be removed from the list if they make “material improvements” to security procedures, officials said.
The policy builds on Trump’s first-term travel ban, which faced numerous legal challenges before being upheld by the Supreme Court in 2018.
