Africa has been hit hardest by the Trump administration’s decision to widen U.S. travel restrictions, but reactions across the continent remained largely muted on Wednesday as governments and citizens assessed the impact.
The new move adds 20 countries to the U.S. travel ban list, expanding measures first announced in June. The restrictions are broader and tougher than those imposed during President Donald Trump’s first term, which mainly targeted Muslim-majority nations and were lifted in 2021.
Of the five countries newly placed under a full ban, four are in Africa: Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, and South Sudan. Syria and holders of travel documents issued by the Palestinian Authority were also included. Several other African countries, including Sierra Leone, were shifted from partial to full restrictions.
Twelve of the 15 countries facing partial limits are African nations, among them Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Angola. The measures link entry limits to concerns over security, documentation, and visa overstays.
The African Union urged the United States to enforce border controls in a balanced and evidence-based way that respects long-standing ties with Africa. The bloc warned the restrictions could harm education, trade, people-to-people contacts, and diplomatic relations built over decades.
Some affected governments said it was too early to react. Sierra Leone said it hopes to engage Washington to seek a review, while Mali’s foreign ministry declined immediate comment.
Analysts and citizens in several countries described the move as unfair and warned it could weaken U.S.–Africa relations while opening space for other global powers to deepen ties on the continent. Others expressed concern over business, education, and travel plans, including possible impacts on fans hoping to attend the 2026 football World Cup in the United States.
In South Sudan, rights activists said the ban reflects Washington’s growing frustration with the government over delays in implementing a peace deal signed in 2018.