The United States has expanded its travel restrictions to include several countries, targeting states aligned with the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) alongside Nigeria and other African nations.
- President Trump outlined new U.S. entry restrictions targeting several countries, including African nations and Syria
- The restrictions aim to enhance national security by improving vetting, information-sharing, and screening methods.
- Countries such as Burkina Faso, Mali, and South Sudan now face full entry limitations due to security concerns
- Partial restrictions are imposed on other nations like Nigeria and Zimbabwe, largely based on visa overstay rates
The new restrictions dated December 16, 2025, are aimed at improving national security by addressing deficiencies in vetting, information-sharing, and screening procedures.
The Proclamation maintains full restrictions and entry limitations for nationals of the original 12 high-risk countries designated under Proclamation 10949: Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.
The countries newly added to the U.S. full restrictions include the AES states – Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, then South Sudan, and Syria, all of which have been flagged for security concerns, particularly linked to ongoing terrorist activities and governance challenges.
These nations now face full entry limitations, including the suspension of visa issuance, due to their inability to meet U.S. standards for screening and information-sharing.
Laos and Sierra Leone, previously under partial restrictions, are now subject to full restrictions and entry limitations.
In addition, Palestinian Authority-issued travel documents will also face full restrictions, following concerns about compromised vetting processes due to recent conflicts in the region..
Several other African nations, including Angola, Benin, Cote d’Ivoire, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Tonga, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, are facing partial restrictions, based primarily on their visa overstay rates, lack of passport control, and deficiencies in civil documentation systems.
Among the newly added African countries, South Sudan is notable for its inclusion. The nation, which has struggled with internal conflict and governance challenges since its 2011 independence, faces ongoing issues with terrorist groups operating in its borders.
These challenges have led to concerns over the vetting of nationals seeking entry to the U.S., particularly as the country lacks robust systems for criminal record checks and civil documentation.
Nigeria, one of Africa’s largest and most strategically important nations, also faces partial restrictions.
The U.S. government cited the ongoing operations of radical groups such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State in Nigeria, along with the country’s difficulties in controlling its borders and monitoring visa overstays.
With a visa overstay rate of 5.56% for B-1/B-2 visas and 11.90% for F, M, and J visas, Nigeria’s inclusion on the restricted list reflects the complex security landscape in Africa’s most populous country.
Terrorist Presence and Governance Issues Driving Restrictions
The newly expanded restrictions highlight the U.S. government’s heightened concerns over terrorism and extremism in certain African countries.
The U.S. State Department has pointed out that the AES states, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger face increasing terrorist threats from groups linked to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State, which have exacerbated instability and hindered effective governance.
These countries are now classified as posing significant national security risks due to the presence of armed extremist factions operating in large, ungoverned spaces.
Syria, though not an African country, was also added to the restrictions, citing similar concerns about instability and inadequate document controls that have undermined the ability to vet individuals seeking to enter the U.S.
International Reactions and Diplomatic Ramifications
While these restrictions are expected to impact travel, business, and educational exchanges between the U.S. and several African countries, the U.S. government has emphasized that certain exceptions will be made for diplomatic, academic, and humanitarian visa categories.
The Proclamation includes exceptions for “lawful permanent residents, existing visa holders, certain visa categories like athletes and diplomats, and individuals whose entry serves U.S. national interests.”
As African countries work to improve their screening processes and counterterrorism efforts, the U.S. has left open the possibility for future reviews of these restrictions, signaling that cooperation on security issues remains a key factor in shaping U.S.-Africa relations moving forward.
This expansion of the travel ban highlights the increasing role of security and vetting standards in shaping foreign policy and international diplomacy, especially as countries confront shared challenges of terrorism, governance, and migration.
