Chad retaliates against U.S. travel ban with visa suspension

Chad has announced it will stop issuing visas to U.S. citizens in direct response to a new travel ban signed by former U.S. President Donald Trump. The visa suspension was ordered by President Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno, who called the decision an act of “reciprocity” and a matter of national dignity.

“I have instructed the government to act in accordance with the principles of reciprocity and suspend the issuance of visas to US citizens,” President Déby said in a Facebook post. “Chad has no planes to offer, no billions of dollars to give, but Chad has its dignity and pride.”

The U.S. ban, which goes into effect on June 9, 2025, affects citizens of 12 countries, mostly from Africa and the Middle East. These include Chad, Afghanistan, Myanmar, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. Partial restrictions will also apply to nationals from Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela.

Trump defended the move, saying it was about keeping Americans safe. “We cannot have open migration from any country where we cannot safely and reliably vet and screen,” he said in a video posted to X.

In another post on his Truth Social platform, Trump mentioned a recent terror attack in Boulder, Colorado, saying it highlighted the risks of letting in foreign nationals without thorough checks. However, the suspect in that attack was from Egypt, a country not affected by the ban.

The White House stated that some countries on the list have poor systems for issuing secure passports and keeping track of criminal records. Others, it said, have high visa overstay rates or ongoing terrorism threats.

Chad expressed disappointment with the decision, especially because the U.S. cited terrorism concerns. Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Sabre Fadoul said the U.S. “completely disregards Chad’s commitment and results in this area.”

The African Union also criticized the U.S. move, calling for a more “consultative approach… with the countries concerned.”

This isn’t the first time Chad has been included in a U.S. travel ban. In 2017, Trump imposed a similar order, which was lifted after talks between both governments.