Executive Order 14161, titled 'Protecting the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats,' was signed on January 20, 2025, and follows a national security review by federal agencies.
The order imposes a full travel ban on seven African countries: Somalia, Sudan, Chad, Eritrea, Libya, the Republic of the Congo (Congo-Brazzaville), and Equatorial Guinea. Nationals from these countries are barred from entering the U.S. under most visa categories.
In addition, three other African nationsâ€"Burundi, Sierra Leone, and Togoâ€"face partial restrictions that target immigrants and non-immigrants holding tourist, student, and business visas (B-1, B-2, F, M, and J categories).
In a video statement, Trump linked the move to national security concerns, referencing a recent terror attack in Boulder, Colorado.
"We don't want them," he said of individuals from high-risk nations. "We cannot have open migration from any country where we cannot safely and reliably vet and screen those who seek to enter the United States."
According to a fact sheet released by the administration, countries targeted for a full suspension were found to have inadequate screening and vetting systems, high visa overstay rates, and in some cases, active terrorist organisations operating within their borders.
For example, Somalia was described as a "terrorist safe haven" with minimal government control and a history of refusing to repatriate its nationals. Chad and Equatorial Guinea had visa overstay rates exceeding 50 percent for certain visa categories. Eritrea lacks reliable documentation systems and refuses to accept deported nationals.
Other countries affected by the full travel ban include Afghanistan, Burma, Haiti, Iran, and Yemen.
Countries under partial restrictions, such as Burundi and Sierra Leone, were flagged for high overstay rates and lack of cooperation with U.S. immigration enforcement. Cuba, Laos, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela were also subject to partial bans, bringing the total number of affected countries to 19.
The Trump administration insisted that the bans are country-specific and designed to encourage foreign governments to improve information sharing and document security. Exceptions remain for green card holders, existing visa holders, and certain visa categories deemed in the U.S. national interest.
Trump defended the policy as a continuation of his first-term travel ban, which was upheld by the Supreme Court in Trump v. Hawaii.
The new restrictions are likely to draw condemnation from civil rights advocates, who have in the past accused the Trump administration of placing a heavy focus on African nations.
Wycliffe Nyamasege
