Uganda and Tanzania Among 36 Nations Facing Possible New US Travel Restrictions
Uganda and Tanzania might soon face new travel restrictions by the US. A draft list from the US State Department includes 36 nations—primarily from Africa, the Caribbean, Central Asia, and the Pacific Islands—citing security and documentation concerns. Countries have 60 days to comply or face potential bans, following Trump’s previous restriction order affecting 12 nations.
Uganda and Tanzania are included in a list of 36 countries that might soon face new travel restrictions from the United States. This potential move comes in the wake of Donald Trump’s administration blocking entry for citizens from 12 countries over national security issues, just weeks ago. In total, the draft report has identified 26 African nations along with countries from the Caribbean, Central Asia, and the Pacific Islands.
The list of African countries facing scrutiny includes Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, the 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. Additionally, Caribbean nations such as Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and Saint Lucia are also listed, along with Bhutan and Kyrgyzstan from Central Asia, and Pacific countries like Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu.
The information about the new travel restrictions came to light through a memo from the U.S. State Department, dated Saturday and signed by Secretary of State Mark Rubio. This memo, which has been disseminated to the governments of the involved countries, gives them a 60-day period to meet specific benchmarks established by the State Department.
The benchmarks largely focus on issues such as the reliability of governmental systems and civil documentation standards. Some nations were highlighted for lacking a central authority or for allowing extensive fraudulent practices. Moreover, concerns were raised regarding a significant number of citizens who overstayed their US visas and the granting of citizenship through financial investments without the necessity of residency.
The memo also expressed worries about reports of antisemitic or anti-American behavior manifested by individuals from these nations while in the U.S. Countries interested in facilitating the return of deported foreign nationals or entering into agreements to serve as a “safe third country” might see some of these concerns alleviated.
It is important to note that the memo instructed these nations to submit an action plan outlining their strategies to meet the requirements by Wednesday. However, there was no clear mention of when the travel restrictions might be enforced, should the benchmarks remain unmet.
This announcement of potential travel bans follows Trump’s signing of an Executive Order on June 5, which barred citizens from several specified countries including Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen from entering the U.S. During that announcement, Trump hinted at possible future additions to this list.
As the United States considers imposing new travel restrictions on Uganda, Tanzania, and other nations, the broader implications highlight ongoing concerns about security, documentation standards, and international cooperation. These countries have until the timeline specified in the memo to take action, and the outcome could significantly influence U.S. relations with this mix of nations across Africa, the Caribbean, Central Asia, and the Pacific. Stay tuned as developments unfold around these critical issues.
Original Source: eastleighvoice.co.ke
